How can it be a year already, the memories are so clear!?  I guess it's because he made so many clear memories, always thinking, and unlike so many, actually doing.  Of anyone I've known, he made the most of the gift of life and still today reminds me to treasure life and breathe it more deeply.
Thanks Ron.

The Bender's in Haysville have many wonderful memories of Ron. Ron gave our oldest son, Nathan, his first buzz cut - still a buzz cut type guy 42 years later! I remember a Doyle visit and making Playdoe for the 4 Doyle children and our 4....that was a lot of Playdoe.
Ron was full of life and will be missed by many. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with all who mourn Ron's passing.
Mark and Christa

We are thinking of you and although we didn't meet Ron, he seemed like the coolest most generous and bad ass father. Sending your family lots of love and prayers.

"Walking slowly in the moonlight through the rows of tea plants, I noticed my mother was still with me. She was the moonlight caressing me as she had done so often, very tender, very sweet... wonderful! Each time my feet touched the earth I knew my mother was there with me. I knew this body was not mine but a living continuation of my mother and my father and my grandparents and great-grandparents. Of all my ancestors. Those feet that I saw as "my" feet were actually "our" feet. Together my mother and I were leaving footprints in the damp soil.

From that moment on, the idea that I had lost my mother no longer existed. All I had to do was look at the palm of my hand, feel the breeze on my face or the earth under my feet to remember that my mother is always with me, available at any time.
Thích Nhất Hạnh

Very sorry to read about Ron's passing.  Met Ron and his son, Patrick, through Ron's lawyer and enjoyed talking to Ron about KW. Sorry for your loss.

I was so sorry to hear about Ron’s death. A Grade-nine high school classmate of Ron’s for only one year at Nicholson Catholic college in Belleville, I had several memorable encounters with him in recent years. These were initiated by Ron, because of our mutual interest in art and culture. He was a larger than life personality, full of passions and enthusiasms and a champion talker and raconteur. He especially liked to collect creative people, from all walks of life, and had a large friend circle.
Here’s what I remember and forgive me if my recollections are not one-hundred per cent accurate:
Ron had a midlife epiphany, inspired by his walking the Camino trail in Spain. If memory serves, this, and several subsequent Camino walks, inspired Ron to become a Spanophile. Upon his return to Kitchener, he built a Spanish-style hacienda filled with art and artisanal details which he had custom-made. Ron became an active arts philanthropist and champion, sponsoring an Andy Warhol show in Kitchener, among others, and spearheading the redevelopment of an industrial complex in Kitchener as an arts incubator.
More recently he had got a place in Toronto, where he was championing a talented street artist and muralist, among many other projects.
I last bumped into Ron and Sue on College Street as they were enjoying tapas and wine on the patio of trendy Spanish-themed Bar Ravel on a sunny afternoon.
Oh yes, Ron and I Initially reconnected at the annual grave-side mass at Read church, where Ron brought his mother Agnes every year to visit the family gravesites and meet old friends.
Condolences to Family and friends and here’s to a unique life, well lived!

Jill and I will always remember Ron's warmth and hospitality. From the many dinners, coffees, conversations and laughs, Ron's wit and creativity was captivating. A community spirit is sadly missed.

Matt and Jill Torigian

"If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. So, wether we live or die we belong to the Lord" Romans 14: 18
    You are such a great man, you are like a father to us, you gave us courage on what we are going to face in this foreign country... we dearly missed you Papa till we meet again... Our deepest sympathy to all Doyle's family...
*** Jane and Jean

I first interviewed you as a summer student at Wilmot Township back in the late 80s. You were kind enough to meet with me and discuss Alloy Castings and the Canada Cup story. Our paths would cross again 25 years later when we were formally introduced through a close mutual friend. We spent quite a bit of time talking about the music and event ticketing industry. I'll always remember our lunch meetings where we talked about the state of community and place and how arts/culture could positively impact and shape the future of our city. I listened carefully and admired your vision, after all look what you did with the Hacienda and Lot 42. I respected your ideas because they were different and unconventional. You also made me feel important by valuing my feedback and opinion. You gave us gems that will forever remind our community just how important arts and unconventional ideas can shape the cultural fabric of our city. You will be forever missed Ron but your legacy will continue. RIP my friend. 

Uncle Ron, I'll miss you very much. You gave me my first job out of University measuring up the old Sugar Beat Factory and creating drawings so you could create in my opinion the most beautiful piece of Architecture in Ontario. Your imagination of ideas you would tell me over coffee at your "wood nailed" sculpture you created will be truly missed. You left at a lasting beautiful impression in my memory and heart, showing your generosity by hosting my wedding with my wife Brienna, thank you uncle Ron and aunt Sue. Still today I think I have the coolest aunt and uncle always having venues with down to earth people, awesome architecture and great music including aunt Sues amazing voice. One child hood memory sticks with me at your Belleville cottage swinging on the rope swing in the living room and dancing to live music. To aunt Sue and my cousins Nadine, Molly, Leslie and Patrick my heart and prayers goes out to you. Love you uncle Ron and may you RIP in God's kingdom.

We were shocked and saddened to read of Ron’s passing. We will remember Ron for his larger-than-life personality and his big heart. Sue, our sympathy goes out to you and your extended family. We hope that the wonderful memories you shared, provide you with comfort and peace.
Kathryn and Johan Lans

It was an unexpected shock to hear of Ron's passing . Our condolences to Sue and the rest of the family as we know Ron will be greatly missed. May his passing offer him peace and his road will be alight with candles glowing with love and to find a cool pint of Guinness waiting for him where ever he stops. Wim and Kathy Lugt. Eganville, On.

We send our deepest condolences to the Doyle family. As Ron & Sue's new neighbours in Point Clark, we were only able to meet them once. Our impression was that we got lucky with lovely neighbours. We wish the entire family strength to get them through the hard moments and to treasure memories in between.

Ron was a mentor and role model to me. Someone who leads by example and showed the rest of us how to care for the community. I will forever miss him.

Ron hired me while I did not have any experience in the foundry world. He gave me a chance. He taught me a lot. I remember him helping his employees and doing it discretely without ever bragging about it. He was an original. When I think of Ron....25 years later, the first thing that comes to my mind is him laughing.

Thank You Ron and Rest In Peace .
-Jocelyn Paul Côté

Shocked to hear the news about Ron's passing today. He'll always be remembered for the character that he was. Never a dull moment.
Thinking of you all during this sad time and hoping that the memories will bring you laughter and smiles.

Hugs from the Promoli family

Ronnie was always a special Character since I first met my cousin in the 60’s, friendly, happy, humorous, outspoken, non-conformist, a change agent, a true free-spirit. I can remember another time, later in 60’s, he dropped by our house in Montreal, as a teenager, on his way to the Maritimes without any real plans, other than taking a journey. Ron was 2 years younger than me, and I couldn’t believe he was travelling on his own and just following the wind……I was amazed, what a ‘Maverick’. Uncle Joe and Aunt Agnes always had a deep Faith, and I guess they knew that their only son, in a family of five daughters, had to find his own way and their Faith allowed them to see how a family’s Love will guide him through any bumps on his journeys through life. Ron took every ‘bump’ as a launching pad for his entrepreneurial spirit, risk-taking, innovation and success in business and helping others. Ron was a kind, generous, charitable and inspirational person to everyone who knew him.
Our sincere Condolences to Aunt Agnes, Sue and family and all my cousins, and I’m sure Ron will add lots of excitement when he joins his dad in Heaven. “For it is from Grace that you have been Saved, by Faith”.
Rest in Peace Ronnie.
Love Barry & Micheline Cullen

Ron was a beast! A mountain of a man. He never missed an opportunity to roast the KW city council, who were forever getting in his way of make that city the Paris of the 401 corridor between Toronto and London. And what a legacy is has given us! KW is changed forever because of his tireless efforts at community improvement, anyone he ever met was imprinted with his spark. Long May You Run, Mr. Doyle.

You were always my funny cousin "Ronny", so loving and so loved. 

From my friend Anna....
He was such a huge character and very clearly a great big part of your heart and soul.
Yesterday was one of those days around the farm where I am full of gratitude that I get to spend my days on this land, pruning trees, starting seeds, getting through building projects, collecting sap.. all the things. And for some wild reason (honest. I’m not making this up) your dad’s voice was in my head from the very first time I met him, asking me why I chose to live a life of poverty. At the time I remember being infuriated that he would say such a thing, to shame me, to belittle all the passion I had just spilled in answering his line of questioning on what I was doing with my life. And now I understand it as one of those moments where he flipped my perspective. By asking such a bold ‘question’ he made me realize that I am actually living in riches. The bounty that surrounds me is everything I ever wanted and more. It may not be monetary, but it’s gold to me. And I will choose this for this lifetime and the next.
And today I find I am full of gratitude for the life of your dad — and the very small part he played in mine.

Sending you so much love as you and your family move through this grief

When I arrived at THEMUSEUM this community allowed me to be successful with some early wins. We then announced our Andy Warhol exhibition.

A call from Visitor Services came saying a man by the name of Ron Doyle was here to see me. I knew him by his maverick reputation and for his creating the Hacienda but we had never met. To use Ron’s words “one wouldn’t pick Ron out of a crowd of two based on what he wore to be a wealthy man.” I gave him a tour as he peppered me gently with questions of what my vision was.

I recall at the time the theatre next door had been vacated and we had hopes of reopening it and managing it. I told him of a mini domed 70mm theatre and the creation of a film festival and theatre both local and international. I told him of Warhol and he asked me what kept me up nights about that show. I said while I had secured millions of dollars of artwork on loan I now needed to find funding to ensure climate control on our fourth level making it grade A exhibit space.

We shook hands and he left.

A week later he called and asked that I come meet for lunch around the corner at a restaurant he later owned. It was summer and we sat on the small patio. We made small talk until his friend showed up after playing golf. Ron turned and said to me “I’ve been lookin' into that Warhol fellow you told me about, he is pretty impressive, how much do you need to upgrade the museum with climate control.” I mistakenly told him the truth, which was about $150K. He turned back to Irvin and said do you have $50K? Irvin surprised said, “well we worked together before.”

Ron then declared you have your $150K, don’t tell anyone who gave it to you, get a story in the paper for others to give and have a good night's sleep.

I did all of those things and then about a week or two later it started to trickle in. First Carl Zehr, Mayor of the day, then reporters and associates. The line was “I hear Ron gave you $150K to help you grow” That was Ron.

At the opening of Warhol, with their backs to the huge screen, I welcomed Irvin and Ron. Irvin leaned in and asked that I not mention his name in my remarks as he hadn’t told his wife about his $50K. Unfortunately on the screen three times our size was a picture of the two of them and a huge THANK YOU! Ron’s snickered like a cartoon character.

Not always easy I stayed close to Ron over the decade listening to his plans and vision. I also stayed close once I learned of his disease. On Friday night we spoke for the last time. He told me to "build something really great Dave," and then he said, "I have to go now.”

RIP Ron after a job well done.

- David Marskell and THEMUSEUM's team

From my friend Lynsey...
Nobody else’s Dad offered (and actually followed through) to take me around town and introduce me to everyone he knew that was doing cool stuff....and bought me lunch and talked about ideas ranging from economics to art to design to politics. The guy was gold, a true original, a fighter and someone I (and countless others) truly admire. I don’t have what he had in his pinky. And I’m ok with that. He was cut from a different cloth - potentially very raw, vintage denim. You’re so lucky that you have some of his character in you and a lifetime of memories. I love you and your family.

May your loving memories bring you comfort and strength at this time. We are so glad we got to catchup with you and the family in Dublin during your trip to Ireland. Thinking of you all at this very difficult time.
- Trina & Brian O'Donnell, and family