If it is to be
It is up to me
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Remembering Ron Morris
Obituary: Ronald Morris / Driven entrepreneur and popular radio host
June 9, 2012 12:06 am
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/obituaries/obituary-ronald-morris-driven-entrepreneur-and-popular-radio-host-639588/#ixzz1xPeu5nGU
Ronald Morris, a popular radio show host and lifelong entrepreneur whose drive and determination inspired others to overcome adversity, lived by two ageless philosophies during his 40-year career in business: "It's all about results," and "There are no shortcuts."
The successful businessman, host of "The American Entrepreneur Radio Program" and founding director of Duquesne University's Entrepreneurial Studies Program, died Wednesday at his home in Collier from neuro endocrine cell cancer.
Mr. Morris, 62, died from the same illness that killed Apple founder Steve Jobs, a person he greatly admired and considered a spiritual partner in fighting the rare disease. They both were diagnosed in 2004 within months of each other.
"He was very shaken up when Steve Jobs died," said his wife, Karen Morris. "He called me about 10 p.m. that night from Duquesne University, and he was really quiet and distraught. He expected Steve Jobs to live forever. As long as Steve Jobs was alive, he had a partner with this disease.
"I remember him saying 'if that tough [man] is gone, why am I still here?' "
A Pittsburgh native, Mr. Morris grew up in Beechview, Dormont and Brookline, moving 21 times during his young life due to the stormy relationship his parents had, which included them getting married and divorced from each other twice.
"He had to make new friends each time he moved to a new neighborhood school, which had to teach him resilience," Mrs. Morris said. "He had a crazy childhood."
By age 10, Mr. Morris had started a door-to-door egg sales route, which laid the groundwork for dozens of startup companies he developed as a young adult, including a software company that made him a multimillionaire before the age of 30. But that success was followed by disappointment.
Mr. Morris began gambling heavily, and in less than three years, he was broke and living in his car with his dog. He owed nearly $2 million to the Internal Revenue Service and various casinos and bookies.
It took several years, but he was always proud of the fact that he eventually did repay everyone he owed.
"He was sick over seeing all his employees lose their jobs and livelihoods and not be able to feed their families all because he wanted to gamble," Mrs. Morris said. "He never considered himself cured. He was a gambler and he wore a rubber band on his wrist as a reminder not to gamble."
After getting help through Gamblers Anonymous, he developed other successful companies, including JD Warren Inc., a New York Stock Exchange-listed company that helps insurance companies recover third-party deductibles. He sold that company in 1999 and was able to retire from the proceeds.
For the past 12 years, he has been best known for hosting "The American Entrepreneur Radio Program" on WMNY 1360-AM, which is broadcast on 15 stations to an estimated 100,000 listeners.
"He was so well-known we would go to the movie theater and if he just started talking, people would recognize his voice from the radio show," said Mrs. Morris, who added that her husband's willpower for some things was so incredible he could wake himself up whenever he wanted.
"All he had to do was say he wanted to wake up at 5 a.m. and he didn't need an alarm clock," she said.
But there was hardly much time for sleep. Mr. Morris wanted to savor every drop of life, even to the end. Six days before he died, Mr. Morris had just returned from a five-day trip he arranged for 18 people to Palm Springs, Calif.
"With Ron, there was no delineation between play and work," said Brian McMahon, a close friend and CEO of "The American Entrepreneur Radio Program." "He loved what he did, and he was always doing it.
"He was a mentor, one of my best friends and a father figure. He was this incredible presence in my life. Ron was a guy who always had to be doing something. He felt if you weren't doing something, you weren't moving the ball forward."
Despite the highs and lows of running businesses, Mr. Morris' top priority was always his family. He married his wife, Karen, at age 50 and they had a son, Jaxon, and a daughter, Lexi.
He once told Mr. McMahon: "I've started a dozen companies, some of them very successful, but if you think there is anything harder or more rewarding than raising a family, there isn't. They have been my ultimate startup."
Mr. Morris is survived by his wife, son and daughter; his mother, Thelma Morris of Mt. Lebanon; and two brothers, William of Meadville and Gary of Dormont.
The family will hold a private memorial service this weekend. Arrangements will be handled by William Slater II Funeral Home in Green Tree.
The family has announced that Mr. McMahon will help to create a fund to support entrepreneurship.
Tim Grant: tgrant@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1591.
First Published June 9, 2012 12:00 am
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/obituaries/obituary-ronald-morris-driven-entrepreneur-and-popular-radio-host-639588/#ixzz1xPfKr8Xk
Remembering Monte E. Baker
Obituaries
Information
- Name:
- Monte Baker
- Date of Death:
- Jun 5, 2012
- Category:
- Current Obituaries
“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting Wow… … … what a ride.”
Monte Edward Baker was born August 11, 1952 in Harrisburg, PA to Barbara Jeane and Albert Baker. Monte was born and raised in Steelton Pennsylvania and graduated in 1970 from Steelton-Highspire High School. While attending Steel-High, Monte was very active in the Drama Club and acted in numerous plays and musical productions. He so loved the theater that the caption under his yearbook photo affectionately stated “all the world is a stage, right Monte?”
An accomplished thespian and musician, Monte starred in several summer stock productions at the famed Tedd’s Landing Dinner Theater in Selinsgrove, PA.
As a teenager, Monte’s first job was proudly selling Jet Magazines and he was a stock boy at the P&J’s Grocery Store on Front St. in Steelton. As an adult, he worked for the old Bell Telephone Company as a coin collector and through much training and hard work, he advanced to a management level career with AT&T completing over 20 years of service.
In the late 1990s, Monte also earned his real estate license while continuing to work in the telecommunications field at several corporations in the city. At his passing, Monte was employed by the PA State Police in Harrisburg, PA.
Throughout the years, Monte continued to fulfill his passion for music and theater and travelled frequently to New York City to attend Broadway shows and productions at Radio City Music Hall. Monte was an avid collector of all genres of music from the classical to jazz and blues. He also worked on the sound crew for several local theater groups and sang professionally for the United Church Choir in Harrisburg, PA.
Although an enthusiastic NY Giants fan, Monte’s heart was closest to his hometown Steel High Steamrollers. He recently served as the President of the Steelton Pride and Legacy Club which supports the Steel-High football team.
Monte was a devoted son to his mother, BJ Baker with whom he had a close and loving relationship throughout the years. She proudly referred to him as “Son”; he always called her “Babe”.
On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, Monte made a sudden, but peaceful transition into eternal life. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mary W. and Jefferson Stevenson. He is survived by his parents Barbara J. Baker and Albert Baker (Philadelphia, PA); sisters, Stephanie J. (Gainesville, VA) and M. Angela (Washington, DC); devoted and loving companion, Janelle Hersch and her family (Summerdale, PA) and Michele Zlogar Baker (Middletown, PA) widow and friend.
Services for Monte will be Wednesday, June 13th at 11AM in the Hooper Memorial Home Inc. The viewing will be private. His final resting place will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Monte Edward Baker was born August 11, 1952 in Harrisburg, PA to Barbara Jeane and Albert Baker. Monte was born and raised in Steelton Pennsylvania and graduated in 1970 from Steelton-Highspire High School. While attending Steel-High, Monte was very active in the Drama Club and acted in numerous plays and musical productions. He so loved the theater that the caption under his yearbook photo affectionately stated “all the world is a stage, right Monte?”
An accomplished thespian and musician, Monte starred in several summer stock productions at the famed Tedd’s Landing Dinner Theater in Selinsgrove, PA.
As a teenager, Monte’s first job was proudly selling Jet Magazines and he was a stock boy at the P&J’s Grocery Store on Front St. in Steelton. As an adult, he worked for the old Bell Telephone Company as a coin collector and through much training and hard work, he advanced to a management level career with AT&T completing over 20 years of service.
In the late 1990s, Monte also earned his real estate license while continuing to work in the telecommunications field at several corporations in the city. At his passing, Monte was employed by the PA State Police in Harrisburg, PA.
Throughout the years, Monte continued to fulfill his passion for music and theater and travelled frequently to New York City to attend Broadway shows and productions at Radio City Music Hall. Monte was an avid collector of all genres of music from the classical to jazz and blues. He also worked on the sound crew for several local theater groups and sang professionally for the United Church Choir in Harrisburg, PA.
Although an enthusiastic NY Giants fan, Monte’s heart was closest to his hometown Steel High Steamrollers. He recently served as the President of the Steelton Pride and Legacy Club which supports the Steel-High football team.
Monte was a devoted son to his mother, BJ Baker with whom he had a close and loving relationship throughout the years. She proudly referred to him as “Son”; he always called her “Babe”.
On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, Monte made a sudden, but peaceful transition into eternal life. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Mary W. and Jefferson Stevenson. He is survived by his parents Barbara J. Baker and Albert Baker (Philadelphia, PA); sisters, Stephanie J. (Gainesville, VA) and M. Angela (Washington, DC); devoted and loving companion, Janelle Hersch and her family (Summerdale, PA) and Michele Zlogar Baker (Middletown, PA) widow and friend.
Services for Monte will be Wednesday, June 13th at 11AM in the Hooper Memorial Home Inc. The viewing will be private. His final resting place will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
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