RONALD RICHARD MULLINS

ORWELL — Ronald Richard Mullins of Orwell, Vt., aged 95, died with his family around him in Rutland, Vt., on March 21, 2024.

Born on April 30, 1928, in Danbury, Conn., he was the son of the late Ethel (Weippert) and Bernard Mullins. He graduated from the Riverdale Country School, received a degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from the graduate school of Business at Columbia University. In 1946 and ’47 he served in the U.S. Army and was also a reserve officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Ron purchased the historic Brown Farm in 1968, which had been in the same family since 1786. Believing that the generations who had sought their livelihood on the farm deserved the respect of a preservation, he took great pleasure in the restoration of the barns and the grand old house. And it was there on the front porch, he married his second wife, Maryann Gray-Mullins on May 19, 1984. The two of them also kept an apartment in New York City.

Mr. Mullins had an extended and wide-ranging business career. First, after college, he joined Texaco. From there he went into advertising at Norman, Craig and Kummel, where he worked as a personal assistant to the legendary Norman B. Norman, before moving into accounts. He then joined Arthur Anderson in its management consulting division. He next founded Cegmark International, Inc., which operated in financial and marketing consulting exclusively for European clients, a company he ran for 35 years. He was engaged with many leading companies in France, England, Italy and Germany and was subject to frequent international travel. Mr. Mullins also served on the boards of directors for a number of companies, including Clark Shoes.

Ron was devoted to his wife, Maryann. He was also devoted to his four children from his first marriage to Janet Hayward, all four of whom live in Vermont: Scott and his wife Cheryl of Orwell; Mark and his wife Maricel, also of Orwell; Hilary, also of Orwell; and Kristen and her partner Judy Rosovsky of Richmond. In addition, he leaves six beloved grandchildren: Jade, Jesse, Bryan, Lisa, Charmaine, and Charlie.

Ron had a fervent interest in economic systems, his scope extending to both finance and politics. He considered himself a life-long student of American history, in particular of the colonial and revolutionary periods. From his independent studies, he confirmed his opinion of the greatness of George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton.

He also had a life-long interest in art and visited all of the main museums in Europe and the United States. In his later years, he developed a great fondness for opera. His apartment in New York being close to Lincoln Center, he was easily able to see the major productions there, and in his view, no finer evening could be had than finding oneself seated in the 10th row of the Met’s Orchestra section, listening to a great opera, an appreciation for opera being something he said comes with age.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date on his farm.

Donations in Ron’s name can be made to the Foley Cancer Center at the Rutland Regional Medical Center.◊