Ronald G. Plante, 89
July 21, 1934 – February 18, 2024
SALEM – Ronald George Plante of Salem, 89, passed away unexpectedly on February 18, 2024 at Beverly Hospital.
He was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Albert C. Plante and Albertine (Aubut) Plante. As a child, Ron attended Saltonstall School and was a member of the high school marching band as a drummer, even though he was not yet in high school. While at Salem High he was a talented athlete. In baseball he was a catcher and later had a tryout with the Red Sox. In football he played quarterback and safety and for many years held the record for three interceptions in one game.
After graduating from high school in 1953, he enlisted in the Marines during the Korean War. He was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and was a tank driver. Ron quickly climbed the ranks becoming a sergeant in just three years of service. While there he played catcher for his unit’s baseball team and boxed as well.
After being honorably discharged, Ron began working for his father’s chimney company, Boston Chimney and Tower Co. of Peabody, MA. After his father’s death in 1967, he became president and owner of the company and grew it into a business specializing in industrial and commercial chimneys serving the northeast as well as many other parts of the country, Canada, and Trinidad. One of his company’s highest profile accomplishments was replacing the peak of the Custom House in Boston.
In 1957, Ron met his future wife Dorothy (Arsenault) at a dance in Ipswich. The couple wed in 1959 and had their daughter Laurie in 1968. Ron and Dot enjoyed 61 years of marriage until her death in 2021.
A proud Salem resident, Ron was very involved in his community. He served on the Salem School Committee from 1966 to 1974 and was Councilor-at-Large from 1974 to 1977. He was also an active booster for the Salem High football team and had a large role in convincing legendary coach Ken Perrone to relocate to Salem from Brewer, Maine to coach the team. Additionally, Ron was a dedicated parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. One of his proudest accomplishments was being an officer of The Family of Saint Thomas Committee, which successfully lobbied for the church to remain open when the Archdiocese of Boston had moved to close the parish.
In his later years, Ron enjoyed yearly trips with his family to Aruba for over 30 years and was a season ticket holder for the Patriots. At his Salem home, he enjoyed teaching his granddaughters and neighborhood children how to swim and dive in his pool, and he was very talented at playing catch, horseshoes, and cornhole. Ron was an avid storyteller, and his most memorable quotes were “Do what you can and can what you can’t,” and “I’m not lucky, I’m blessed.”
Ron was a devoted father and grandfather, and he will be sorely missed. Ron is survived by his daughter Laurie Graumann and her husband Donald of Wenham, MA, his granddaughters Emily and Abigail Graumann also of Wenham, his brother Richard Plante of Kissimmee, FL, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his beloved dog, Holly. Ron is predeceased by his parents Albert and Albertine Plante, his brother Albert Plante, his sister June Schimmel, his sister Pearl Vasconcellos, his brother Gerald Plante, and his wife, Dorothy.
ARRANGEMENTS: Ron’s memorial service and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project in Ron’s memory. To send a condolence to the family please comment below. Condolences may not immediately appear on the website.