Ronald Edward Wainrib, 72

Ronald Edward Wainrib, 72, a former Franklin resident, most recently of Westborough, Mass., passed away on December 21, 2023 after a long illness.

Ron was born in Kew Gardens, N.Y., the son of Eva (Solomon) Wainrib and Simon Wainrib. He grew up in Hewlett, N.Y., where he made lifelong friendships and was known for his jump shot on the local basketball courts. He became involved in a friend’s father’s campaign for Congress, and, although unsuccessful, it sparked a love for politics and public service, and an idealism that shaped his career.

Ron attended SUNY Stonybrook and later earned his law degree at SUNY Buffalo, followed by a master’s in public administration from the University of Connecticut.

Ron married his first wife, Shelley Wainrib, in 1975, and they lived together in Falls Church, Va., where Ron worked at the Department of Transportation, before settling in Massachusetts and starting a family, raising their children, Julie and Joshua, in Franklin, Mass.

Ron’s legal career shifted gears toward consumer product safety, where he wrote about and advocated for standards and safety measures in children’s toys. This opened the door to legal education, and Ron spent the remainder of his career producing seminars and legal materials for attorneys across Massachusetts, working at the Boston Bar Association and later starting his own legal education business.

Ron married Kathleen Gardner in 2017.

Ron never lost his love for politics, and his time in Buffalo made him always appreciate a good snow storm. He enjoyed watching all sports (except golf), classical, jazz, and 70s folk music, and in his later years, he enjoyed playing board games and card games with his grandchildren.

Ron is survived by his wife Kathleen Gardner Wainrib of Templeton, Mass.; his daughter Julie Connelly and her husband Sean of Southborough, Mass.; his son Joshua Wainrib and his wife Jordan of Charlton, Mass.; his five grandchildren, Avery, Boden, Tucker, Alexander, and Andrew; and his sister Diana Wainrib and her husband Alfred Hamilton of Southborough, Mass.

He was predeceased by his parents, Simon and Eva Wainrib.

Ron was buried in a private family service in Great Barrington, a place that was very special to him, on December 24, 2023.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial service at Congregation B’nai Shalom, 117 East Main Street, Westborough, MA, on Tuesday, January 2, 2023, at 1 p.m., followed by an open-house gathering at the home of Julie and Sean Connelly at 26 Granuaile Road, Southborough, MA, from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Jewish Family Services of Metrowest in Ron’s honor.