E. Ronan (Ron) Campion85, of Vero Beach (formerly of Hanover, NH & Newbury, NH), passed away peacefully after a brief illness on October 10, 2018, surrounded by and with knowledge of the immense love and support of his family and friends. Ron was born April 17, 1933 in Hanover, NH, the son of James Walsh Campion Jr. and Helen Chamberlain Campion.

Ron received his elementary education in Hanover, NH and graduated from Governor Dummer Academy in 1951. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1955, Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Counter Intelligence Corps from 1955-57. He attended Georgetown Law School from 1957-58, then left to work for retail clothier R.H. Stearns in Boston, MA for several years as their Head Buyer. While living in Boston, Ron would meet his wife of 57 years, Constance (Connie) Fleischli - on a blind date. Shortly after marriage in 1960, the couple moved to Hanover, NH, where Ron joined the family business, James Campion Inc. (Campion's). Ron and his brother Jim (James Campion III) took over the helm of running the retail department store in 1968, which they did together for 14 years and then was solely under Ron's leadership from 1982 until 1992.

Ron will be remembered for his enthusiasm for life, discipline, tenacity, keen wit, playful sense of humor, generosity, and his undying love and devotion to his wife Connie (who he referred to as "Dearheart"). Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed playing tennis, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, squash, downhill and cross-country skiing, hunting and fishing, billiards, as well as the art of storytelling. A skilled and accomplished fly-fisherman, Ron was known to spend countless hours on weekends and holidays fishing his favorite lakes and streams through New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Eastern Canada as well as bone fishing in the Bahamas. An English major in college, Ron was an avid reader throughout his life - his Kindles were always filled with the latest novels and his recycling bin was bursting with spent newspapers. He cherished playing Scrabble or challenging the New York Times crossword puzzle with Connie, and was also an accomplished card player (favoring bridge over all other games).

Ron treasured time spent with friends, travelling the world, watching sports (rooting for his alma mater, Boston professional teams, and the New York Giants), and enjoying the abundance of natural beauty throughout his native New Hampshire - everything from swimming and canoeing on Lake Sunapee to hiking and camping in the White Mountains; from hunting and fishing at the Dartmouth Grant to playing pick-up hockey games on Occum Pond. Cherished family times included annual fly-fishing trips to Stowe, VT, camping excursions up and down the Eastern Seaboard in an RV, annual Campion Family Reunions ("Wimblewood"), as well as relaxing at their family home on Lake Sunapee (including cruising in his electric boat, aptly named "Dearheart").

While living in Hanover, NH, Ron was actively involved in a number of civic endeavors aside from helping run the family business, including boards and committees for Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Hanover Improvement Society, Hanover Rotary Club, Hanover Chamber of Commerce, Hanover School District, Dartmouth National Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank of America, Dartmouth College Athletic Council, Dartmouth Fraternity Governing Board, Dartmouth Alumni Council, Dartmouth Task Force on Budget Priorities, Howe Library Corporation, Hanover Hockey Association, Hanover Finance Committee, United Way, Varsity Courts Tennis Club, the Marauder Booster Club, and the X-Club. In 1986, the Town of Hanover awarded Ron its Citizen of the Year Award for his love and dedication to the town.

Ron is preceded in death by his wife Connie, his parents, step-mother Esther Riley Campion, brother James Campion III, and sister-in-laws Christine C. Fleischli and Ann M, Fleischli. Ron is survived by sons Brian W. Campion (Dulcy) of East Thetford, Vt. and Eric R. Campion (Denise) of Vero Beach, FL; grandsons Zachariah R. Campion of Ridgefield, CT and Noah T. Campion of Vero Beach FL; sister-in-laws Dorothy Campion-Corcoran of Pittsboro, NC and Nancy F. Evans of Springfield, IL; brother-in-laws Dr. Edward C. Fleischli of New Canaan, CT, Dr. Donald J. (MaryEllen) Fleischli of La Jolla, CA, John "Jack" P. (B.J.) Fleischli of Rochester, IL, and George R. Fleischli of Madison, WI; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and Echo - his beloved Standard Poodle.

A public graveside service and burial will be held at the Pine Knoll Cemetery in Hanover, NH on Saturday, November 3rd at 11:00am immediately followed by a public reception at the X-Club in Norwich, VT. All are welcome to attend. A private celebration of life will also be held in Vero Beach, FL in early 2019.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Ron's memory may be made either to the James W. Campion III Rink (Hanover Improvement Society, P.O. Box 106, Hanover, NH 03755; www.hanoverimprovement.org) or to the Granite United Way (1 Court Street, Suite 370, Lebanon, NH 03766; www.graniteuw.org) or to a charity of one's own choosing.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.