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Ronald J. Fonte

Ronald Fonte Obituary

Ronald J. Fonte
64, passed away on Dec. 22, 2010. He was a world traveler, publisher of magazines, and served as an educator of English Literature in Bologna, Italy. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in American studies. He was the publisher and editor of "Toronto's Fifty Best Restaurants" in Toronto, Canada, and "Friends of Wine" in Washington D.C.
He is preceded in death by his father, Albert Fonte and his mother, Connie (DiMario) Picone. He is survived by his stepfather, Orlando Picone; brothers, Richard (Brenda) Fonte, John (Bee) Fonte, and Randy Picone; sisters, his angel on Earth ~ Mary Zeigler, Donna (Steve) Yablonski, and Rebecca Fonte; and several nieces and nephews.
A brief funeral service will be held on Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Sunset Hills Memory Gardens Cemetery. Ron's family would like to thank the staff at Oakhill Manor for the wonderful care they provided to him while a resident at their facility. Arrangements are at the direction of the Paquelet-Falk Funeral Home of Louisville.
Paquelet-Falk
Funeral Home
330-875-2811
Serving Stark County
Families Since 1867

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Repository on Dec. 26, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Ronald Fonte

20 Entries

Robert (Bobby)Miller

December 21, 2022

I remember one fridgid President's Day downtown before the stores opened waiting to be first in for the bargains at Vicoaries. We were so cold against the wind in "Little Chicago" walking around on frozen feet with Ronny noses!. Miss you, my friend! Hope to join you someday! What a joyous reunion that will be!

Jaime Vargas

December 26, 2018

In Memoriam
Ron, it' s been eight years... sadly you left too soon.

My sympathies to Dick, Mary, Lindsey, and Orando.

Robert Miller

March 30, 2013

I lost track of my wonderful friend long ago when we went our own separate ways. I am proud to have known him and I just wish I could have reunited with him just once more. Rest in peace with our father my dear friend, I miss you badly.

June 11, 2011

This is really strange. I typed Ron Fonte into Google and find this. My name is also Ronald Fonte and I'm 64. Sounds like he had a great life. Me, I'm doing ok I have my health problems but still hanging in there. This is no prank. My condolences to you. Ron Fonte

Greg Doherty

April 17, 2011

Ron Fonte, The Man, The Legend!
My Wine “Trip” with Ron Fonte.
I first met Ron Fonte back in the early 1980’s. At the time I was the General Manager of a restaurant in Georgetown called Nathans. The bar business was going gang busters and we had improved the menu, so it seemed that the next logical step to drive more business through the front doors was to upgrade the wine list. The owner, Howard Joynt, and I had decided that we would get serious about the restaurant wine program and see if we could secure an award from the Wine Spectator Magazine. Howard’s job was to go on research trips to dine at the best restaurants in NYC and mine was to cultivate the wine purveyors in DC. As a result Nathans wine program won Best of Award of Excellence from the Wine Spectator Magazine for 10 years in a row. An integral part of the wine program would feature the Annual Tete de Cuvee Blind Champagne Tasting every fall. We were rewarded with enthusiastic support from the local wine industry by such luminaries as Robert Gourdin, Clement McCune Brown III, Bobby Kacher and Ron Fonte. Ron Fonte was a big fan of tasting champagne. It was during this same time that Ron Fonte had developed a relationship, through his successful wine club, Les Amis du Vin, with Pan American World Airways, Pan Am. His arrangement with Pan Am was that Les Amis du Vin would provide a “Wine Expert” usually from a vineyard in California, France or Italy, to conduct wine tastings in flight in exchange for a free round trip ticket from NYC to various cities in Europe. Occasionally Ron would call me when they had an open ticket because a “Wine Expert” had cancelled at the last minute and ask me to conduct a wine tasting in flight from a Europe to NYC. Ron Fonte “sent” me to Europe 5 times, which included trips to Rome, Paris twice and Nice twice. I got to attend the Vin Italy Wine Fair in Verona and tour Northern Italy; Paris a couple of times with side trips to Epernay & Riems; the Cannes Film Festival with side trips to Cap d’Antibes, Monte Carlo and Geneva. The final trip was to Cannes for Bastille Day and finish with a weekend in Paris. Ron Fonte decided to accompany me on this the final trip and invited 7 friends to join him. We would sit on Ron’s balcony at the Hotel Martinez on La Croisette in Cannes drinking Taittinger Champagne and decide which restaurant to go to for dinner that was seeking a favorable review from the Legendary Ron Fonte of Les Amis du Vin.
Ron Fonte, The Man, The Legend, lived life large and shared his passion for life and wine with many lucky friends. The wine industry mourns the loss of a passionate advocate.

Julie Martin

April 16, 2011

So very sorry to find this sad news. He was a wonderful man and friend, and as some of his friends would kid him, a legend in his own mind, always a smile on his face & in his heart.
Julie Martin [email protected]

Wendy Dubit

January 20, 2011

Comfort and blessings to the dear friends and family of Ron Fonte.

Ron was my first and finest boss.

Fresh out of college, he hired me to help run Friends of WINE magazine and Les Amis du Vin. In addition to all the other things we shared through work, Ron and I read and wrote poetry, talked philosophy, and had huge, deep, enduring fun. I don’t know that I've ever before or since learned so much from someone!

Ron lived LARGE, was generous with his brilliance and warmth, and was always true to himself.

I pray that he knows the positive and lasting influence he had on my life.

There are so many memories of Ron that I hope to share with you and with others who knew and loved him!

So please contact me if you can.

Warmly and looking forward,
Wendy Dubit, The Senses Bureau
[email protected]

Robert Wakeman

January 12, 2011

I have Ron to thank indirectly for my career in the wine business due to a notice in "Les Amis du Vin" magazine about Tompkins-Cortland Community College in Dryden, New York, offering a wine marketing program back in the early 1980's. I graduated the program in 1984, and have worked in the retail and wholesale wine business ever since. Thanks, Ron, and may God bless you and your family.

Dorothy Kowalsky

January 10, 2011

Ron, my late husband Arnold and I were dear friends and colleagues from the early 1970's into the late 1980's; when Arnold & I were the Westchester County, NY organizers and chapter directors of Les Amis du Vin, which, as you know, Ron was one of the founders. We spent some grand and even "tipsy" times together at tastings, dinners, private dinners at our home and conventions.

My condolences to you on the loss of a very special person.

Sincerely yours,

Dorothy Kowalsky

Phil Ward

January 10, 2011

Hello Fonte family,
My first trip to France and the regions of Bordeaux, Loire Valley and Cognac were with Les Amis du Vins and Ron. This was in the early 1970s and it was an eye opening experience for a neophyte and yet learning wine consumer. I have now been in the wine business for 25+ years after a successful career of 10 years in kitchens. The love of wine and the lifestyle was sparked by this trip.

December 30, 2010

Dick,
We are sorry to hear of your brother's passing. Take care of each other at this difficult time.

God bless,
Tom & Sandy Silverthorn

Antoinette Teolis-Meyer

December 27, 2010

Fonte Family, I am sorry to hear about your loss,,,even though I did not know Ronald, I have such fond memories of Uncle Albert, and may you be comforted in knowing that you have yet another guardian angel watching over you.

December 27, 2010

Though I never knew you well

December 27, 2010

Though I never knew you well

RICHARD AND BRENDA FONTE

December 26, 2010

WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO YOU COMING HOME TO VISIT...NOW YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR US TO COME HOME TO SEE YOU...WE WELL MISS YOU BUT SOON WE WILL BE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN. TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD. WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Raymond Behanna

December 26, 2010

Mary, Richard, Randy, Donna and Family,

Only Knowing Ron for a short time, most of what I know of Ron comes from knowing Ron's sister Mary (Yes his Angel)and visiting with him. I believe Ron is at peace and rest. Some day his family will see Ron again.
I feel blessed to have had Ron and his Sissy in my life.

Mary Zeigler

December 26, 2010

You will always be in my heart. I cherish our time together and will always remember your kind loving ways. You were unique and loved by all, a kind-hearted, wonderful person. Bye for now, God Bless you, and I will see you again someday. Your Sissy.....

Mary Zeigler

December 26, 2010

I cherish the time we had together, every minute of it. You were unique in every way, an amazinging honest loving person whom everyone loved. You will always be in my heart, and we will be together again someday. Your sissy....Mary

Kathy Gubesch-Omicinski

December 26, 2010

Mary, Donna, Randy and family,

Thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. Mary, you were his angel here but know that he is resting peacefully now in the hands of our Lord.

Randy Picone

December 26, 2010

want to say good bye for now brother,, for i know one day we will all be reunited in heaven,, you were an amazing man in life,, and i will sure MISS your laughter and great personallity,, love forever,,, your brother RANDY

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