As much as Schlegel Villages has grown since the first Village came to life in Kitchener in 1991, the people connected to it have always been a tight-knit family. Today, that family – along with countless other people around the world who have known Ron Schlegel as a colleague, mentor, friend and source of inspiration – is deeply saddened to learn that Ron passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 19.
It is fitting that after his health began to turn in his early-80s, Ron chose to live in The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener – the Village that launched the Schlegel Villages organization as we know it today. Long-serving team members there remember how Ron and his beloved wife, Barb, would visit weekly to sit with residents and learn from team members.
They knew most people by name. They learned their stories and asked about their families. They cared deeply. As the organization grew, Barb and Ron would spend their Sundays visiting different Villages, always with the same intention. They were always making authentic connections, and Ron was always eager to learn what innovations could inspire a better future for the oldest generations of our society.
That hunger for knowledge defined much of Ron’s life.
He was a farmer first and foremost. You can picture him in his teens and 20s, working the fields around Ailsa Craig near London, where his father, Wilfred, planted roots. Ron ran a straw-baling business through his undergraduate studies in London and, even as he continued to pursue a Master’s degree and later his Doctorate, he continued to run multiple farms and the straw business. The hands-on, hardworking ethic that defined his agricultural roots was the foundation of who he became.
Over the years, his business interests continued to diversify and the power of his entrepreneurial spirit spread in several directions: Schlegel Urban Development, based on his keen academic interest in urban planning; Schlegel Poultry, which became Canada’s largest turkey producer and honoured his agricultural heritage; mental health and addiction care through Homewood Health; and cutting-edge, forward-thinking research through The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and the Homewood Research Institute.
Beyond all of that, Ron’s legacy is one of community-building and the constant quest to enhance the lives of those around him through a generous, philanthropic philosophy that knew no limits – a spirit that carries forth within the sons he leaves behind, Rob, Brad and Jamie, and their families.
Ron’s generosity planted the seeds for the RIA, for example, which has become one of the world’s leading research institutes focused on healthy aging. For his work in seniors’ care and research, he was decorated as an Officer of the Order of Canada, but Ron wouldn’t want to focus on that. His humble nature opposed such reflection. He wouldn’t want to talk about all of the honorary degrees, awards and recognition he received throughout his life, nor the countless community donations that have helped create parks for families to enjoy, sports fields where competition can thrive, or spaces where people who are struggling can feel safe.
No matter how far his businesses grew or how many awards he received, he never hesitated to stop and make a meaningful connection with a stranger, taking a genuine interest in their life story. This was always who he was.
He would talk to everyone around him, seeking wisdom from an elder who calls a Schlegel Village home or from those who live nearby. He would want to learn about each team member and where they came from, what fuels their passion and what brings them meaning in life. He would always ask a researcher about their work, or a child about what makes them happy.
He cared deeply for community and for everyone around him, both his immediate family and the extended one that continues to grow around us all. His curiosity, passion, dedication and incredible work ethic are an inspiration to us all, and across Schlegel Villages and far beyond, Ron Schlegel will be sorely missed.
Yet his vision for strong, connected communities where people of all ages and abilities can thrive and find deep connection and belonging will be a beacon for all to follow, in honour of a man we all care for deeply.
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