Ronald Arthur RHODES

RONALD ARTHUR RHODES March 8, 1936 - October 19, 2023 It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Ronald Arthur Rhodes, at the Dorothy Ley Hospice with his beloved wife, Chepa (Wang), at his side. Ron graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Business Administration, became a Chartered Accountant and earned an MBA from UWO. At Western, Ron had the privilege of studying under Jack Wettlaufer and Don Thain. Ron's career in finance included positions at the Ford Motor Company, the University of Toronto, the Hospital for Sick Children (where he had the honour of working with CEO, John Law), the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation and Selkirk Communications. At Selkirk, he developed an interest in subscription television and was hired to launch The Family Channel. Ron and his business partner, Michael Ihnat, then created and launched the Women's Television Network (W). After launch, Ron sold his interest in the channel and started his own investment company. During his retirement years, Ron became interested in Indigenous affairs and honoured his good friend, June Callwood, with a fully funded scholarship, named after her, for Indigenous scholars in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. A similar scholarship that Ron funded at the University of Saskatchewan has evolved into two fully endowed award programs: The Arthur Rhodes Scholarship for Outstanding Graduates of the Program for Legal Studies for Native Peoples and The Roger Carter Leadership Award for Native People. Ron commissioned two life-sized bronze sculptures of WWII flying ace Officer George (Buss) Beurling (in his opinion, an overlooked hero). One is in The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton and the other is in the Aviation and Space Museum in Quebec, two institutions that Ron generously supported. Ron was an avid reader and admirer of Farley Mowat, and commissioned life-sized bronze sculptures of Farley Mowat and his dog, Chester, which are at the University of Saskatchewan in Farley's home province. In retirement, Ron and Chepa studied Argentine tango, travelled extensively and enjoyed the quiet life at their Muskoka cottage. Predeceased by sibling, Elaine; Ron is survived by his brother, Gregg; his wife, Chepa; Chepa's daughter, Raina and her husband, Jay Dunkelberger, and their children, Roderick and Rosalie. Ron is also survived by children from his first marriage, Benjamin, Emma and Borden; and grandchildren, Aden, Ava and Kate. A private gathering in celebration of Ron's remarkable life will take place at a future date.