“Ron Begansky was a friend of mine” is a predictable response one gets when remembering him with neighbors. Ron was one of those people we come into contact with all too seldom in our lives. A singular individual, he was a friend to all!
His knowledge of accounting and skill as a CPA is known throughout the region. A steady stream, of friends and neighbors, especially at tax time, visited Ron in his office and elsewhere for his valued counsel and a friendly word.
However, Ron was not known only to his clients.
Ron came on the radar of this writer soon after he and Wendy moved to North Granby in the early 1980s. The Church had a new bass in the Choir and shortly thereafter a participating member of the Board of Finance. Ron was more than willing to share his time and expertise with the Town. This included giving the operating boards advice that they likely did not appreciate but readily accepted! Later he served on the board of the fledgling Granby Education Foundation for a while and performed, pro bono, annual audits of the Foundation’s books.
Mention can be made of his long-time membership in the National Guard, leadership at Northwest Bank and its holding company, his self-effacing manner, wry wit, and his love of a good story. However, perhaps our most appropriate memory of the man is of Ron on the Bushnell stage, standing at the back of the bass section of the Hartford Chorale performing Handel’s Messiah; singing his heart out and enjoying every minute of it!
Ron was the salt of the earth. Ron Begansky was a friend of mine.