Ronald Lee "Ronn" Davis

It´s been exactly a year since Ronn was brutally taken away from us. We miss him so much... Ronn had created a safe and warm domain for me and all my friends in the SMC Mentor Program. He wanted us to love, support, and protect each other, while navigating this cold, hard world together as fellow artists. He savored every moment he could to enrich us with his abundant knowledge of the art world. With an endless fount of wisdom and patience, Ronn was the paragon of what a beloved mentor...

It has taken me this long to share my memories of Ronn because it has been so painful for my husband and me to talk about losing him. We still can´t believe how suddenly he vanished from our lives! The art world has lost an irreplaceable artist and I have lost a dear mentor... Many years ago, when I was thinking about changing careers from a banker to an artist, Ronn helped me make up my mind and guided me through making the right decision for myself. By having faith in me, Ronn encouraged...

I met Ronn Davis in the fall of 1998 when I stumbled into his painting class at Santa Monica College. My story is not dissimilar to many of his students. Ronn was there at the right moment at the right time, and redirected my course in life dramatically for, I believe, the better. In fact, much better. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak to him one last time this past June and remind him of his significance not only to me but to countless others. Here he is pictured with me and...

As your student, I hope to keep the courage to make some noise out there. My apologies for not visiting earlier as promised. But more than anything, thank you, Ronn - I will make sure to pay it forward.

Ronn changed the lives of thousands of SMC students and was a beloved colleague to me and to so many others at the college. Rest in peace, Ronn.

Ron was my mentor at SMC and he was one of the best thing to have ever happen to me. He is everything I have wanted to be as a teacher and an artist. I made his life hell and he never tried to stop me.
Thank you Ron I love you
Matthew Sheehan

I keep thinking on Ron’s passing and how incredibly lucky I was to have met him. I will never forget a little piece of paper, handed to me by a Santa Monica College counselor, with Ron’s name written on it. He told me: “Here is the name of a teacher you must meet “ Wow! Boy, was he right!
Always there to listen to you, shake your creative thinking, as well as leaving you with way more questions than answers. And at the same time, bombarding you with such substantial hopes in the art...

Ronn,
We had a love for cars that connected us when I first entered your classroom at SMC. You were a supportive pillar for me and many other students, creatively and as a mentor. I am grateful to have shared with you how important your support has been for me. Thank you for always making yourself available and for staying in touch with me all these years. You showed me that you were invested in our longterm outcome and for that I will always be grateful and will honor you by paying it...