Ronald J. Souza

Ronald J. Souza (85), husband of Marjorie (Nunes) Souza of South Dartmouth completed his life’s journey on June 24, 2022. He was the son of the late Leonilda (Leona) and Joseph Souza of Dartmouth, and brother of Patricia (Souza) Balestra who resides with her husband Chet in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

In addition to his wife, Ron is survived by his most cherished legacy; his three daughters: Kathleen Souza-Pontes and her husband Randy of South Dartmouth, Nancy Souza of Stamford, CT, and Lynn Souza and her partner Valerie Suto of Monroe, CT. He leaves five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom brought immeasurable pride and joy throughout his life’s journey: Grandchildren: Kate Souza Manahan and her husband David, Daniel Trifone and his partner Kelli James, Allyson Souza, Jessica Souza, and Jordyn Chymbor-Souza. Great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Maxwell, and Wyatt Manahan.

Ron was a committed family man whose greatest joys were when in the company of his close family during their numerous gatherings, vacations, and trips.

Ron and Marge were 1954 Dartmouth High School graduates and had been married 63 years. They have resided at Round Hill in South Dartmouth since 1998, following 30 years of residence in Stamford, Connecticut. They moved from the Dartmouth area in 1962; purchased their Round Hill home in 1991 while residing in Stamford, CT; and became full time Dartmouth residents again in 1998, after their retirements.

During his early years in the area Ron was a sought after musician (drums) with local combos. Following graduation with a degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University he served six months active duty with the U.S. Army and 6 ½ years in the active Army Reserves assigned to field hospital units.

Ron enjoyed a distinguished career in the healthcare field as well as serving in many capacities with professional and non-profit organizations. Throughout life, he generously offered his time and talents to his profession and his community. “Giving back” was a way of life for him.

His pharmaceutical career began locally in 1958, as a staff pharmacist at St. Luke’s Hospital. He moved to Newington, CT in 1962 and became Director of Pharmacy, Central Services, and Respiratory Therapy at the Newington Children’s Hospital. While in Newington, he served as president of the Newington Jaycees, co-chairman of the United Fund Drive, and two-term president of the Connecticut Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Following nine years in the hospital field, Ron entered the pharmaceutical industry as a marketing manager for two pharmaceutical companies before starting a 19 year career in medical marketing/education/communications with New York City agencies, beginning with J. Walter Thompson as a senior VP, account group supervisor, in their medical communications division. He then joined Rolf Werner Rosenthal, Inc. in a similar position, where he was instrumental in its rapid growth and became a partner and eventually its president. In 1985, RWR, Inc. was acquired by Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, one of the world’s premiere advertising agencies, and Ron was appointed President/CEO of the RWR division and a senior vice president and member of the Management Council of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide.

He left O&M after five years to become a principal and CEO of Barnum Communications, which was re-name Barnum & Souza, Inc. After three years of rebuilding, the agency was acquired by a larger firm and Ron left Manhattan to form his own consultant business out of his home in Stamford, CT.

During his career he played a key role in the marketing of many significant pharmaceutical products, including the introduction of RETROVIR (AZT), the first approved drug effective in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, and he was the product manager at Endo Labs, responsible for the introduction of NARCAN, a highly regarded narcotic antagonist agent.

Through his consulting business he provided marketing assistance to various pharmaceutical companies and, as a consultant to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, he was instrumental in establishing ASHP Advantage, a new division that developed and conducted accredited continuing education programs for pharmacists. He served as its Director of Business Development for two years before formally retiring from business.

During his tenure with NYC agencies Ron served on several regional and national professional committees and advisory boards, and also volunteered his services as a vice president for the Dooley-Intermed Foundation, an international non-profit health care organization that provided personnel, supplies, services and equipment to developing countries in Southeast Asia and Central America.

Ron’s contributions to the industry he loved were recognized and distinguished when in 2021 he was inducted into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame (MAHF). It was his crowning professional achievement. The MAHF was founded in 1996 to preserve the history and heritage of the medical advertising profession as well as to recognize the industry’s most influential and respected forebears.

Returning to Dartmouth after 36 years, Ron became active in local organizations. He served on the Boards of Director for the Dartmouth Rotary Club, the Zeiterion Theatre, NB Art Museum, New Bedford Education Foundation, and the Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly. He was a member of the Marketing & Public Relations Committee for SouthCoast Hospitals; and was actively involved with DCTV’s Dartmouth Wanderers. He was a member of the Wamsutta Club, the Luncheon Club, and the Dartmouth 350th Anniversary Committee. In 2009, he was awarded the title of Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation in recognition of his services to Rotary International.

Ron was a principal and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for CONNECT, Inc., a full service IT provider located in Fairfield, CT, which he eventually passed on to his daughter, Lynn.

Ron enjoyed participation in sports activities and several hobbies which included photographing lighthouses and collecting lighthouse memorabilia. Two of his lighthouse photographs adorned the covers of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s official publication, “Keeper’s Log” in the 1990’s and a bound collection of his photographs are the property of the Maine Lighthouse Museum as part of the museum’s still image archives.

He was an avid tennis player who frequented local courts and enjoyed golf outings at the Round Hill golf course…and an avid fan of Boston’s Red Sox and Celtics, and the NE Patriots.

What Ron enjoyed most in life, however, was being with his family. Of particular enjoyment were the many years of family winter vacations in the Dominican Republic. His was a full and productive life.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, June 30th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home, 230 Russells Mills Rd., South Dartmouth, MA. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, July 1st at 10:00 a.m., St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 795 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home prior at 9:00 a.m. for procession to church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dartmouth Council on Aging, 628 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748.