In Memory of Ronald E. Becker
Ronald E. Becker
Nov. 7, 1928 – March 29, 2015
The Louisiana Sea Grant family has suffered a loss. Associate Director Emeritus Ronald E. Becker died at his home in Baton Rouge on March 29 at the age of 86.
Becker began working at Louisiana Sea Grant in 1970 and officially retired on Sept. 1, 2010. However, he dedicated an additional two years of service in an advisory capacity, helping to review proposals and investigating new systems for program planning and evaluation. His insight, unique personality and institutional knowledge will be sorely missed.
Becker held a geological engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines and spent six years on active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His service assignments included combat engineer units in Japan and Korea and a mobile geodetic survey detachment created before the invention of modern Global Positioning Systems to provide the Army Map Service with precise global positioning capabilities. Later, Becker studied geotechnical engineering at Purdue University, where he earned a master’s degree and completed Ph.D. course requirements. He worked at Texas Instruments before being recruited by LSG’s first director, Jack VanLopik, to help grow the nascent program into one of the most highly rated in the Sea Grant network.
“Ron was a true Renaissance man,” said retired Sea Grant Director Chuck Wilson. “He was well-versed in many different topics, particularly local geology. He was always willing to offer a slow, gracious and well-thought-out comment on the topic at hand. He was a deep and deliberate thinker and a great writer with the highest standards. Ron was the backbone and essence of Sea Grant for many years. We will miss him.”
Becker was not a native of Louisiana, but he quickly adapted to the local food and cultural bounty. He was an avid outdoorsman who fished and hunted with many of his Sea Grant colleague and friends. He particularly relished helping Sea Grant fundees work out of the Leeville camp. He enjoyed ballroom dancing, as well as a good shrimp or crawfish boil.
Becker is survived by his wife, LSG retired Communications Director Elizabeth Coleman, and a son, Michael.
Memorial Service Information:
Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 18, at St. John’s United Methodist Church, followed by religious services at 11:00 a.m.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
9375 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70810