2005 Articles

Ron Daniels, former editor and publisher of this magazine, died suddenly, possibly of heart failure, June 4 at home. He was one month shy of his 57^th birthday.

Upon receiving the news that night by email from his longtime friend and colleague Phil Zarrow, I sat stunned at my desk for several minutes. Then I put in calls to several mutual friends, in hopes of learning a little more.

Afterward, I sat back down at my computer, scrapped the column I had written two weeks earlier for this issue, and started writing this one.

I met Ron at Nepcon West in 1992. I was a rookie editor. Almost from our first get-together, Ron acted as mentor and counsel, which isn’t odd, until you realize that at the time we worked for competitors. But he was never one to bother with the unwritten rules against fraternizing with the enemy. Nor was he ever one to withhold the wisdom of his 35-plus years in the field. I recall once spending several minutes moaning about the parent company that published my magazine (and probably letting him hear more than a little internal dirt). Ron, now enlightened about the competition (and probably a little embarrassed that he didn’t even have to pry), simply said, “Let’s talk about you.”

That was Ron. He knew when it was time for business, and when it was time for fun. For 20 years, he did a more than fair job of combining the two, first as an editor and, later, publisher for Printed Circuit Fabrication, Circuits Manufacturing, Circuits Assembly and HDI magazines. I followed him around, figuratively and literally. We both hailed from outside of Baltimore, and to this day still have family there. In the 1990s Ron recruited me for one of the publications of which he was publisher. It was an unsuccessful attempt on his part; for personal reasons I had to turn him down. He was disappointed. But the process paved the way for my joining the company two years later, albeit for a different publication and a different boss, and still Ron was first to call with congratulations. So much for holding a grudge.

Where we diverged was that while I was a byproduct of a large Midwestern university and stuck to communications, he grew up in industry, having spent 15 years at Westinghouse Defense Systems in Baltimore and Proto Systems in Atlanta. He was a former Marine, and after 9-11 wore a lapel pin signifying his veteran status.

Ron’s son and daughter-in-law gave birth to his first grandchild this year. The timing caused him to forego Apex, the first time anyone could remember him passing on a major trade show. Based on what he said and wrote about the experience of becoming a grandfather, I don’t think he gave the missed expo a second thought. I last saw him in May, at Nepcon East. He looked great.

At the time of his death, Ron was editor of Circuitnet, an online news service, and a principal at ITM Consulting. He is survived by his wife, Judy, whom I know, and sons Jordan and Tim, whom I don’t, but of whom he wrote from time to time and spoke of often, and his mother and grandson. Donations in his name can be made to the American Red Cross.

For me, the irony of Ron Daniels dying from heart failure is near Shakespearean. After writing this, I gave my own son, now 2, a bath, tucked him in bed and hugged him extra hard. I’m sure Ron wishes he could hug his wife and kids one more time, too, and so do I.

P.S. UP Media Group, the SMTA and some of Ron’s former colleagues are discussing possible memorials. Ideas include scholarships or industry recognition awards. If you have a suggestion, please send me an email.

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