RONALD D. BARBARO

October 28, 1931 – August 10, 2025

Ron Barbaro passed away. Ron lived from 1931 – 2025. For anyone in his orbit, Ron would say this moment in life is not the extraordinary date that defines a person. Nor would your birth date define you. For Ron, life and its extraordinary moments are measured by the "dash" separating the years between life and death. And describing Ron's life contained in the brief dash between 1931 and 2025 is no easy feat.

Like many of his era, Ron's early life was a humble one. Born in a second floor flat over the family's restaurant on Ottawa's Bank Street, he was raised to understand the meaning of hard work all the while keeping a light heart and offering plenty of laughter. Whether with family, friends or colleagues, Ron was known to bring fun to whatever he did.

At an early age, Ron moved to Windsor, Ontario, for a new opportunity at a dime store chain where he would be introduced to the two influences that would change his life forever. Firstly, the dime store experience put him in front of everyday people where he developed his keen career-defining understanding of the customer. And secondly, he met, fell in love with, and married Ginetta Cusinato.

Impressed by Ron's customer relations skills, a group of life insurance sales professionals suggested that he try the insurance business. Soon sales success and a promotion to an executive position at North American Life brought him to Toronto.

By 1970, Ron co-founded Win-Bar Insurance in Toronto; a successful commercial insurance brokerage firm where selling Canadian life insurance products, he became one of the most productive salespersons globally over successive years. Prudential Insurance Company of America recognized this success and recruited Ron in 1985 to be its President of Canadian Operations.

During his tenure as President in Canada, he pioneered a life insurance innovation that transformed the centuries-old insurance industry. While visiting Casey House, an AIDS hospice in Toronto, he asked a resident how he could help. 'Die with dignity' was the patient's response. Having learned that the patient had a life insurance policy, Ron was inspired to have life insurance policies allow terminally ill individuals to withdraw funds from their policies before they died, allowing some comfort and support, before their passing. This innovation called "Living Benefits" has since been adopted by life insurance companies globally.

Ron became well known throughout his career for his innovations, 'can do' attitude, and creative thinking, but his development of Living Benefits was the achievement he was most proud of.

Prudential of America again recognized Ron for his outstanding Canadian leadership in the life insurance industry relocated him to New York to serve as President of Prudential's Worldwide Operations, launching new operations in Italy, Korea and Spain.

In the early 1990s, Ron moved back to Toronto and attempted to retire, but he was soon recruited as Chairman and CEO of the Toronto Argonaut Football Club by co-owners Wayne Gretzky and John Candy. In 1998, Ron became President and CEO of the Ontario Casino Corp. which he successfully merged with the Ontario Lottery Corp to become the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. He served as Chairman and CEO of the newly formed organization from 2000 to 2003.

Ron's approach to problem solving was always bold and creative. His advice was frequently sought by leaders of industry, politics and sports, so not surprisingly Ron's membership in the global insurance trade association, the Million Dollar Round Table, led to him becoming President in 1985. Similarly, his directorships were numerous, and since the early 1990s have included Equifax Inc., Choicepoint Inc., Canbra Foods, Thomson Corporation, Northbridge Financial, Trans Global Insurance, and The Brick Group, among others.

Ron's business savvy, generosity and enthusiasm for giving back to community has also made him a vital figure in charities and non-profit organizations where he eagerly volunteered his time to serve as chairman and board member. He was responsible for saving the Santa Clause Parade along with friend George Cohon of McDonalds. He was also an Advisory Council Member to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and over the years he has led and served on various boards including the Molson Indy, Ronald McDonald House Charities, United Way, Kids Help Phone, SARs Economic Recovery and St. Francis Xavier University. He was also the volunteer Chairman and CEO of Design Exchange, North America's first museum of Design, and he served as Executive Chairman of the Board of the Metro Toronto Zoo from 1975 to 1985, successfully negotiating with China to arrange the first ever Giant Panda exhibit in Canada.

Ron's achievements in business and philanthropy have been acknowledged with an appointment to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest level of recognition for individual excellence and achievement in any field. He also received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honorary degree from Eastern College in Philadelphia for his significant positive contributions to the business world and his lifetime community involvement. In 2001 he was recognized with the University of Windsor's prestigious Clark Award, established to recognize outstanding service to the University. His numerous achievements have been recognized far and wide from Catholic Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Canadian Professional Sales Association, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, among others.

Outside of work and volunteerism, Ron found a passion for fishing. Whether it was teaching his young family to fish or his annual trips with fishing buddies, Glen Sather, Norm Jewison and George H. W. Bush, nothing made him happier than to spend quality time with family and friends.

You wanted to be around Ron. He saw fun in each of his varied endeavours, and his charisma, charm and ever-present sense of joy led to lifelong friendships with fellow business titans, sports figures, celebrities and politicians. With genuine interest he enjoyed both being connected with people and connecting people. In short, he was one of the most personable people you could ever meet. And he brought laughter and delight to every minute you spent with him – whatever the circumstances.

Happily for the family, we benefited the most, from his ever present energy, comedy, and enthusiasm for life. He will be deeply missed - always.

Ron is survived by his loving daughters, Maria Barbaro, Catherine Barbaro (Tony Grossi), and son Richard Barbaro (Joanne Tornabene), his adored grandchildren, Domenique, Olivia and Lia Barbaro, and his dear sister Catherine Holbrook.

As Ron wanted, we celebrate his "dash." We continue the legacy he started with creating our own "dash" and dare the line we draw be bolder than the one he left.

If desired, donations may be made to the Charity of Your Choice in memory of Ron. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.