Ronald Ray Pitts

Ron attended school in Andalusia, played baseball and basketball, while also playing drums in the band. He taught drum lessons on weekends and during the summer. He attended college initially on a music scholarship and played with both the New Orleans and Birmingham symphonies in the tympamy and percussion sections.

After his freshman year, he reevaluated his long term goals and attended the University of Alabama majoring in communication. While at the university he had several radio and TV programs. The most memorable of which included a weekly chat with football coach bear Bryant evaluating the games and the strategies during football season.

Ron graduated in 1971 and worked as a manager for a national nutrition chain in Baton Rouge. He was promoted and sent to Savannah. There he met a member of the knight family, owners of a radio station in town and was asked to manage the station. He enjoyed the work and the opportunity to become a part of the community. After the station was sold, Ron returned to school and acquired his C.P.M., certified property manager, designation.

Ron eventually became the president of the property management group for Life Investors/AEGON/Transamerica. This promotion took him to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then and still headquarters for the group. A southern boy used to southern weather did not enjoy the climate. As he often said, you didn’t need a freezer, the garage served as one.

After visiting Tucson to inspect a property for the company, he did some exploring and decided he liked the city. He made inquiries about positions in Tucson and took a job with Whitehall Capital in 1985. He met his future wife, Jane Shera, while working at Whitehall.

Ron loved to fish after he retired. He spent time in the Amazon and fished the Niger, fished both coasts of Mexico, Montana, and most particularly new Mexico from Cochti to the Rio Grande to Abiqui, to the Red River. Most particularly he loved Cow Creek Ranch in the Pecos. Ron made his home in Tucson and Santa Fe, NM.

He is survived by his wife, Jane, his brother Gary (John r. Pitts, Susan), of Andalusia; his children, Christopher (Debi) of San Antonio; Patrick (Jen) of Germantown, MD; Elizabeth (Marcus); and, Kendree both of Tucson. He has six grandchildren, Cameron, Philip, Faith, Trinity, Carly and mason. His niece, Susanna Hall (Lee) and nephew Cory Pitts, both reside in Andalusia.

His days were short, but mostly spent being happy and doing what he wished. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Peppi’s house, 2715 N. Wyatt drive, Tucson, AZ 85712 or the Alzheimer’s foundation, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th floor, NY, NY 10001.

A memorial will be held Sunday, September 24th at 10:30 am at East Lawn Palms, 5801 East Grant road, Tucson, AZ 85712, followed by a reception at the Radisson, 6555 E. Speedway,