Ronald Ira Kirschbaum

Born in Sebring, Florida, Ron met his wife, Honey, while at Emory University. Together they moved to New York, Missouri, and Florida before settling in Raleigh in 1971, where he became an integral part of the Raleigh and Jewish communities. A tax attorney, he had a long and distinguished career working with many well-known local companies and organizations. He served on the Raleigh City Council from 1972-1977. He was integral to creating, and later served on, the Boards of Directors of Hospice of Wake County (now Transitions LifeCare ), the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, and the Wake County SPCA. He also served as a Board Member at Beth Meyer Synagogue, the local Jewish Federation and as Chair of the North Carolina Anti-Defamation League. He remarried after his wife's death and had a full life with his second wife, Jan, spending time with friends, traveling frequently and taking long hikes in the woods with their dog Dharma.

He was actively involved in many social rights issues, marching and organizing on behalf of causes from antisemitism and antiracism to women's rights. He monitored several hate groups and their local activity on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League. He was a longtime patron of the NC Symphony. Many of his family's best memories relate to handing out pamphlets, attending protests, and going to fundraising events for the causes he supported.

He instilled in his family a love for animals and the outdoors, with many family trips (which included many family dogs) consisting of hiking, camping, and whitewater rafting.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Kirschbaum, his children Frank (Suzanne) Kirschbaum and Cynthia (Sean) Toomey of Raleigh and Steven (Rebekah) Kirschbaum of Manhattan, Kansas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cullen Toomey and Isaiah, Angelina, Emma, Noah, Max and Asher Kirschbaum. He was preceded in death by his wife, Honey Kirschbaum, and his granddaughter, Eleora Toomey.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Transitions Lifecare, the Wake County SPCA, or the NC Symphony.