Ronald Coulter Filson

Ronald Coulter Filson, 75, of Plymouth, MA, passed away on October 09, 2022, from cardiac arrest. Ron was born on December 11, 1946, to Clifford Coulter Filson and Mae Alice (Foster) Filson in Chardon, OH. After graduating from Riverside High School in 1964, he was offered a scholarship to Yale and was a teaching assistant to Dean Charles Moore. While an undergraduate at Yale, he was awarded the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, Italy. His first job after graduating was in Algeria, working on the restorations of the M'Zab Valley, a 10th century UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1974, he was recruited to the University of California at Los Angeles, where he became assistant dean of the architecture school and directed the Urban Innovations Group. As a member of Charles Moore's architecture firm, he worked on the Piazza d'Italia and the Wonderwall at the New Orleans, LA 1984 world's fair. He was hired in 1980 as Dean of the Tulane School of Architecture in New Orleans where he served twelve years. He later operated RFA Architects in New Orleans. Ron was married to Lea Sinclair Filson on October 9, 1999. He had two children, Lily Virginia Filson, and Timothy Coulter Filson (deceased). He was previously married to Susan Saward of New Orleans. He was a devoted grandfather to grandchild Virginia (Vivi) Filson. Ron retired and moved from New Orleans to Plymouth, MA in 2019, working as Project Manager on the restoration of the Mayflower Meetinghouse, the future education center for the General Society Mayflower Descendants. He shared a passion for travel, history, and genealogy with his wife Lea and was a member of Ancient Honorable Artillery Company, Sons of the Revolution, the Winthrop Society and others. In New Orleans, he played tennis daily at the New Orleans Lawn and Tennis Club. After moving to Plymouth, he served on the Plymouth Historic District Commission and was a member of the Old Colony Club. Ron was predeceased by his father, Clifford Coulter Filson, his mother Mae Alice (Foster) Filson and his son Timothy Coulter Filson. He is survived by his wife Lea, daughter Lily, his granddaughter Vivi, and his brothers, Roger Filson and wife Polly, William Filson, and Wayne Filson. A service will be held on Sunday, September 16 at 3:00 pm at the Mayflower Meetinghouse, 19 Town Square, Plymouth. A memorial service will be held in New Orleans, LA in early 2023. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Mayflower Meetinghouse, c/o GSMD, 18 Winslow Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.