Ronald Tillier

Ronald Maurice Tillier died suddenly on January 22, 2012. He was born September 6, 1939 in West Warwick, R.I., the only child of the late Maurice J. and Cecile E. Tillier.

He attended the University of Rhode Island where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1961. He served in the U. S. Army from 1961-63 where he attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Following an honorable discharge, Mr. Tillier remained in the Army reserves for several years and was finally discharged with the rank of Captain.

On October 12, 1963 he married the former Margaret Clare in Danville, VA who survives him. They moved to the Boston, MA area where Mr. Tillier was a teaching assistant at Boston College while he earned his MBA.

Following graduation from Boston College, Mr. Tillier went to work for the Ford Motor Company, starting his service in the New York area, followed by moves for Ford which took him to Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He completed his tenure with the company as a Regional Sales Manager in the Pittsburgh Regional Office

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Margaret (Laura) T. Bates and her husband Steven, of Sugar Land, TX; and Elizabeth T. Tierney and her husband Brian, of Columbus, OH; and six granddaughters: Clare and Cecelia Bates; and Katherine, Grace, Anna and Elizabeth C. Tierney.

Upon retirement Mr. Tillier moved to the Cambridge area in July 1996. He joined the Friends of Blackwater at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in August 1996 where he served as a volunteer; as a member of the Board of Directors; as President of the Friends of Blackwater for six years; and served as a mentor to other groups seeking to start Friends groups on their refuges. He was named “Volunteer of the Year” at Blackwater for 1996-1997, was selected to attend various summits with the Fish and Wildlife Service and was asked to testify before a House Subcommittee on Conservation.

After moving to this area, Mr. Tillier developed an avid interest in sport shooting and was elected President of the Cambridge Skeet and Gun Club. He also was a charter member of the South Dorchester Folk Museum and the American Legion.

Ron was a parishioner Old Trinity Church, Church Creek, where he served as a vestryman.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday January 28th, 2012 at Christ Episcopal Church, Cambridge, MD. Officiating at the service will be Rev. Robert Gribbon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dorchester Humane Society, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Friends of Blackwater, PO Box 1231, Cambridge, MD 21613.