I met Mr. Ron in the summer of 2024 through a virtual partnership. I directed a summer program at our church & his organization, Colorado Tek, graciously opened their hearts  to 10 youth from Mississippi, many of whom had limited internet access and basic computer skills. Despite the challenges, Mr. Ron went above and beyond. He personally secured equipment, collaborated with us daily, and made sure our students could complete each module and exam successfully despite the digital divide challenges in our rural town. 

Although his program was designed for Colorado youth, he took a leap of faith on a group of students in a small MS town. He saw the need and responded with heart, humility, and servant leadership, reflecting Christ in every action. His kindness, faith, and commitment to uplifting others through technology and mentorship were a true ministry.

Thank you, Mr. Ron, for walking boldly in your earthly assignment. Now that you’ve completed your course, may you find rest and joy in your heavenly reward. To his family and loved ones, please accept our deepest condolences from The Mendenhall Ministries in Mendenhall, Mississippi. 

As a family impacted directly by the Colorado FutureTek program, I would like to share a note of gratitude to the Fontenot Family. We all come to this earth and we can choose to help lead others astray or help lead them in the way they should go. Mr Fontenot did what he could to help make the world a better place for the students in the Colorado FutureTek program. My son Joey completed the Colorado FutureTek program around 2011 when he was in the 9th grade. At first, I thought it was like any other school activity, but the program Mr Fontenot and Mr Henson started helps students realize all these opportunities out there that many may not have known existed or how to get started and we were one of those families.

I met Mr and Mrs Fontenot, Mr Henson, Mrs Spencer, and the other instructors when I would pick Joey up after the FutureTek classes, and they all seemed to genuinely care about the students in the program learning. So it was funny one day when I picked Joey up and Mr Fontenot asked if he could speak to me about Joey. He said that he wasn’t sure if Joey was getting anything out of the program until that day. I asked him why and he said that Joey mainly sat in class and smiled, not taking notes or asking questions. But, he said that day they played Jeopardy in class and he was shocked that Joey knew every answer to every question. Joey seemed to be unaffected on the outside but he was really soaking all the information up all along. I mention this day, because Mr Fontenot went above and beyond to help Joey. Not because he had to, but because he had a student who wanted to learn more and so he said he would help him with resources to learn more. He asked Joey about his interest and recommended books to read, additional programs he could learn from, and suggested Joey for an internship, but he never took credit, he was always very humble.

When Joey went to college, I wrote Mr Fontenot a thank you email to let him know how grateful I was that through the years he continued to help Joey realize so many opportunities that never would have happened without his Colorado FutureTek program, but he remained humble and wanted to make sure all were recognized. He wrote me a wonderful email back that said,

“Thank you for your email. We at Colorado Futuretek are extremely happy for Joey’s success, and we are very pleased to have played a part in helping him along the way.” The email included more, but I just wanted to share that though Mr Fontenot had accomplished a lot, he was never arrogant as a lot of accomplished people I have met throughout the years, but he was always kind and humble in the part he played in my son’s success.

I got to meet Mrs Fonenot on several occasions and she is truly just as kind and humble as her husband was to our son, they even came to Joey’s high school graduation party and Joey’s art show at his high school. They celebrated our successes with us and helped his sister Laken when she joined the SummerTek program years later.

I write all this to say, Mr Fontenot and the Colorado FutureTek program helped Joey get into a career field he would not have been able to get into with the instruction, guidance, and internships that came directly from Mr Fontenot and the Colorado FutureTek program. So, I guess if the mission was to help under-represented children get into the technology field, then they succeeded! We are grateful to have known such an honorable person!

Blessings

Extending our heartfelt condolences to Patricia, Ron Jr., Christine, David and the Fontenot family. Sending you love and strength as you navigate through this challenging time. May God grant you peace to feel comfort, strength to endure the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts. I have known Ron since I started my career at Bell Laboratories back in the 80’s. We volunteered as members and tutors with CABPES and served on the board for Colorado Futuretek, Inc. I appreciated Ron’s passion he had for exposing our youth to careers in technology. Rest in Paradise Ron. Your legacy will live on!

Arlene Booker & Family 

Brother Ronald was a kind and gracious fraternity brother. Rest in Peace Brother Ronald.

By Bro. Leon Stiles, Esq.

Bro. Ronald Fontenot, like renowned educator Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and Rev. Jesse Jackson, was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Ronald was initiated into the fraternity through Pi Psi Chapter February 27,1971 on the campus of the University of Illinois. Ronald’s surviving pledge brothers are saddened by the news of his death. We send our deepest sympathy. "Friendship Is Essential To The Soul"

Keith A. Mosley

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

My sincere condolences to the family.

Ron will truly be missed.

We send our love to Pat and the family in this time of great loss.  Our loss is Heaven's gain. We will cherish the memories we made together at St. Stephen with Ron, Pat and our kids growing up together in a Christian family environment.  Rest in peace, Ron.