Ronald "Ron" C. Ellington, age 77, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 23, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born April 3, 1944 in Atlanta, GA. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Dorsey Ellington and Katherine Louise Roberts Ellington. He leaves behind his loving daughter, Ashley Rehan Ellington Brown (Jim Brown) and grandson Jackson J. Brown, of Pensacola, as well as many treasured friends. Ron graduated from the University of Georgia with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Journalism and was an avid Bulldogs fan. He had a long and varied career, starting in print and broadcast journalism at the Macon Telegraph (where he initiated a series exposing substandard housing conditions for the area's poor) and WMAZ-TV and WBML radio, and then working for private and public companies (including 20 years as CEO or COO), as well as being a serial entrepreneur and founding or cofounding five companies. He was an incredible leader, gifted communicator, tireless worker, and brilliant strategic thinker, as well as an extremely good and caring person. He was deeply spiritual and thoughtful, dedicated to growing and seeking answers to life's hardest questions.

Ron was active in politics from a young age and was committed to helping others through community work everywhere he lived. In Georgia, he was honored by then-Governor Jimmy Carter; was Director of the Macon Jaycees, President of the Macon Westgate Exchange Club, and a founding member of the Bibb County Council on Aging; and conceived and organized Macon's first Minority Business Development Organization. He was active in multiple winning races for Mayor, City Council, County Commission, State Legislature, and Congress in Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida. He was proud that he had about 50 issues come up before various government bodies and never lost a vote in 35 years.

Ron moved his family to New Orleans in 1975 and lived there for 25 years. As a three-time president of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association, he reorganized and reenergized it, growing it from 50 to 500 members in two years. He initiated multiple fundraising events, creating the most fun and successful parties in the history of the FSJNA. Ron was instrumental in protecting the neighborhood from multiple zoning threats, despite prominent opponents and adverse circumstances. He also led many efforts to improve quality of life in the neighborhood, including creating annual events like the Bayou Clean Up and Christmas in October, which repaired more than 100 houses for elderly residents; supervising the repair and sprucing up of several bridges across the bayou; and spearheading the refurbishment and revitalization of three playgrounds, including organizing youth sports teams and helping construct a concession stand to make the program sustainable.  Ron received a commendation from the New Orleans City Council for "significant contributions to the betterment of his neighborhood, the district, and the citizens of the community." During his time in New Orleans, he also led a center city church in its first strategic plan, saving the church by increasing membership and income.

Ron loved living in New Orleans and going to Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras. He became a diehard New Orleans Saints fan; he and his daughter enjoyed going to many games together over the years. They especially enjoyed watching the Saints win the 2009 Super Bowl together, cheering the team on from Antoine's Hermes Bar in the French Quarter and celebrating into the wee hours.

Ron also lived for ten years in Colorado and hiked and camped throughout the western states, visiting numerous national parks. He loved to travel and went all over, sharing his experiences through detailed emails with family and friends. Through his long road trips across the US, he put nearly 400,000 miles on his trusty 1996 Toyota 4-Runner. Ron loved all holidays, but especially Christmas, which he truly savored by decorating his home with vintage ornaments and enjoying multiple gatherings with loved ones. These always included great music, champagne, and the exchange of meaningful gifts, many of which he found on his trips or during his favorite pastime of "poking around" in local shops, antique stores, and used bookstores.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, Ron returned to live there for a time in order to help; he designed and implemented a strategic plan for a start-up modular home company, enabling them to grow and successfully provide affordable housing for residents who had suffered so greatly.

Ron moved to Pensacola in 2009 to be closer to his daughter and her family. While in Pensacola, he worked as a consultant and was lead on multiple initiatives for Innisfree Hotel Group, including interfacing with BP in pursuing numerous oil spill claims in Florida and Alabama, securing more than $15 million. He also formed and directed Escambia County's first trade association of hotel and condo owners and managers, and extracted the county's designated tourism marketing organization, Visit Pensacola, from the Chamber of Commerce, setting it up as an independent corporation with a diverse board. Additionally, he was a vital part of the team that secured $15 million to renourish Pensacola Beach.

Ron also worked on issue campaigns such as the Pensacola Strong Mayor Charter Change referendum and the creation of the Children's Trust in Escambia County. He ran the ballot initiative campaign in 2020 to establish the Escambia Children's Trust—which will raise $130 million for early childhood education funding over 10 years—managing to succeed despite the pandemic and a hurricane. The initiative passed by 61% and carried 74 of 80 precincts. This program will significantly improve child welfare outcomes in Escambia County and have a huge positive impact for generations to come.

Ron loved life, loved to celebrate, and loved to get together with people he cared about. He had a fantastic sense of humor and loved to laugh and to share jokes, stories, and reminiscences. A celebration of his life is now scheduled for 4:00pm, Sunday, September 19, 2021 at the Pensacola Beach Hilton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waterfront Rescue Mission in Pensacola, The National Parks Conservation Association, or Defenders of Wildlife.