Ronald James Gedrim

Ronald James Gedrim, 68, born May 25, 1949, passed away peacefully at home on September 24, 2017 lovingly surrounded by family. He had survived cancer long past his original prognosis in part by loving cancer as an integral part of his body and life journey. This brought him many gifts of presence, appreciation, and deep connection with loved ones over the last year.

Ron was born in Massachusetts and grew up spending many hours exploring the gentle woods and streams there. He became a proficient trout fisherman at a young age and brought his love of the wilderness and fishing to New Mexico when he and his wife, Lisa Jacobs, moved to Albuquerque in 1977 after meeting at Beloit College in Wisconsin. He also brought his love of art and photography, earning two graduate degrees in photography at the University of New Mexico. He was an elegant and articulate writer. He received international recognition for his scholarly work on the photographer Edward Steichen.

Not dissimilar to Steichen, Ron was a man of many passions and skills. He was a proficient vegetable gardener, woodworker, handyman extraordinaire, inventive cook, homemaker, lover of nature, neighborhood activist, and local historian. He believed if he had the right tools, he could do anything. He proved this to be true countless times, and, for his own pleasure, accumulated the large number of tools he needed. Above all, he was passionate about his home, historic neighborhood, and his family.

Ron also made immeasurable differences in the lives of countless incarcerated students working as a school librarian at the Youth Diagnostic and Detention Center for ten years. He successfully encouraged a love of reading in students by sensitively choosing books to match their passions. Annually, his 200 students averaged 16,000 check outs.

Ron was obstinate, opinionated, stubborn, insightful, wise, compassionate, aesthetically sensitive, and brilliant. If he had had another fifty years, he could not have exhausted his passions. Although he could be difficult at times, he leaves us with gifts that will continue to nurture us through our lifetimes.

Ron is survived by his beloved wife of forty years, Lisa Jacobs; his son, Robin Jacobs-Gedrim; daughter-in-law, Lisa Keenan; mother, Genevieve Dierks Gedrim; sisters, Lynette Helms, and Karen Land; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held Sunday, October 1, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., at his home.