Edward Francis Ronan, Sr, 87, of Southbury, died peacefully March 7 at Regional Hospice in Danbury, surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 22, 1928, in Yonkers, NY, and was a son of the late Irene G. (Fitzgerald) and Stephen E. Ronan. He was the devoted husband of his wife of 65 years, Ellen Doris "Honey" (Flood) Ronan, who survives him.www.regionalhospicect.org.

Five sons and spouses, Michael P. and Kathy of Newtown, Edward F., Jr, and Mary of Brookfield, Kevin T. and Susan of Brookfield, Robert S. and Susan of Danbury, and Ronald J. of South Egremont, Mass.; 13 grandchildren, Stephen Ronan, and wife Darcy, Margaret Mary "Maggie" Gavin, and husband Sean, J. Wyatt, Cooper, Kristin, Matthew, Timothy, Cassi, Samuel, Benjamin, Douglas, Daniel, and Holly Ronan, and her fiancé Morgan Evans; two great-grandchildren; his sister, Betty Ann Holodak, and husband Robert, of Suffern, N.Y; and his brother Gerald Ronan, and his wife Carol, of Roxbury; and dozens of beloved nieces and nephews and their extended families survive Mr Ronan.

He enlisted in the US Marine Corps at the age of 17, serving from 1946 to 1948. He attended Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., graduating in 1952. He started his career as a CPA for the accounting firm Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in New York City, then worked for the New York metal trading company Philipp Brothers, rising to the position of treasurer. In 1965 he joined Perkin-Elmer Corporation of Norwalk as controller, settling his family in Ridgefield and Apple Hill Farm in Ridgebury. He went on to hold key executive positions on his way to being named senior vice president of Perkin-Elmer's Optical Group, which included the Electro Optical Division, the Optical Technology Division,and the Space Science Division. He always spoke fondly of his gifted friends and colleagues and their commitment, expertise, and camaraderie in their work together producing world-class high-technology products including Micralign and the renowned Hubble Space Telescope's Optical Telescope Assembly, among many others.

After retiring from Perkin-Elmer in 1983, he founded Visionetics Corporation in Brookfield. He was sought out often for his business wisdom and acumen, before completely retiring to spend more time with his lifelong sweetheart "Honey," sharing their passion for family, friends, and golf in Connecticut and South Carolina.

He was a musician, an entrepreneur, and a proud Irish-American patriot. Above all, he was a family man. He became an avid New York Mets fan after having his heart broken by the Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles in 1957. In his heart and soul he was a true entertainer, who could light up a room upon entry. He was kind and generous and he was a source of love and joy playing Santa Claus for his grandchildren at Christmas, and meticulously building dollhouses for the girls and train villages for the boys.

The family will receive friends Friday, March 11, from 5 to 8 pm, at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road. Funeral services will take place at St Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 163 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, at 10 am, Saturday, March 12.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Regional Hospice and Home Care Center for Comfort Care and Healing, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810, or at