Ronald Evans Gebhardt, loving husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully surrounded by his family in Sewickley, PA of natural causes on May 17, 2016.  He

was 86 years.

Ron was born in Clinton, NJ, a small town in western New Jersey, on March 15, 1930 to Phillip Reading and Frances Bien Gebhardt. He graduated as valedictorian from Clinton High School in 1947, and because the school lacked a physics teacher, Ron took a post-graduate year at Lawrenceville Academy where he was presented with their Physic’s award.  He earned his civil engineering degree from Cornell University in 1952.  Committed to his country, he served as a 1st lieutenant in Germany during the Korean War.

His career began in 1956 with H.H. Robertson in New York City as a sales engineer where he met his wife, Cora Alice St. John from Greenwich, CT in 1957, and the two married in 1958.  In 1963 the couple and their children moved to Pittsburgh, PA and in 1972 traveled to Paris for three years, where Ron worked as the general manager of H.H. Robertson France, before returning to Pittsburgh, their home ever since.  In 1976, Ron joined Ryan Homes as Senior Vice President of Product Development and later finished his career as a consultant to the international building industry with Gebhardt Associates.

Like his father and grandfather, Ron dedicated himself to his community.  Most devoted to education, he served on the board of Sewickley Academy for 21 years, five of which were as chairman until his retirement.  For his tireless dedication, the school awarded him a position as Trustee Emeritus.  Of equal importance in his life was his commitment to serving unprivileged children in the Pittsburgh area, which drove him to establish the Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education (F.A.M.E.).  Since its inception, F.A.M.E. has enabled ninety-two students to finish high school, all going on to college.  F.A.M.E. similarly recognized him as a Trustee Emeritus for his tireless service.  In addition to these two activities, Ron served as the Vice President of the Independent School Chairmen’s Association.  A loyal member of the Presbyterian Church for fifty years, he contributed his time to the Church as a Deacon and an Elder.  He also spent much of his energies as an advisor to the Sewickley Community Center and on the board of trustees of the Sewickley Valley YMCA.  In addition to charitable work, he served on the board of many other business associations.  Finally, he enjoyed his time on the board of Allegheny Country Club.

In 2000 the Pittsburgh Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded him with the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award.  Likewise, the Urban League of Pittsburgh recognized him with the Ronald H. Brown Corporate Leadership Award in 2006.  An advocate for all people, he was presented with the Racial Justice Award in 2000 from the Pittsburgh YWCA.

Ron engaged in all kinds of athletic and outdoor activities from tennis and golf to skiing and hunting, all of which he enjoyed doing with his family and friends until just a few years ago.   A lover of music, he and C.A. also supported and attended the Pittsburgh Symphony for years.

Ron is survived by his wife, Cora Alice, three children, Elisabeth Gebhardt Turner, R. Evans Gebhardt, Jr. (Tanya Tuccillo) and Joy Dickerman Gebhardt (Bradford W. Beuc) along with his six grandchildren: Ashley St. John Turner, Jonathan William Turner, Max Reading Gebhardt, Avery Arlington Gebhardt, Carter Wentworth Beuc and Sophia Dickerman Beuc.

The family will hold a memorial service on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley, 414 Grant St., Sewickley, PA 15143.  There will be a reception with the family following the service at the Church.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sewickley Academy, (www.sewickley.org) or F.A.M.E. (www.famefund.org, 6031 Broad Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15206).  Arrangements by Copeland’s.

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