Memories of Ronald Fenton Fleming

2009, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

We interviewed Professor Fleming for a nuclear documentary and he refused to sit in the cement office studio we had set up because it was a nice day.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Krazie Bob

I'll add one more, but probably shouldn't.

Little known fact as it was no big deal. Ron and I happened to be in attendance at the 3rd (I THINK) annual Hash Bash (Circa April 1974) on the Diag. I saw the Plamondons hanging out by the UGLI (Under Grad Library). I’d been introduced to Pun and Jeanie by a wild friend named Robby. I brought Ron over and made the introductions.

An interesting political discourse followed. Ron politely spoke at lengths, didn't bloviate but dug deeply regarding Libertarian philosophy. The Plamondons were founding members of.... The Human Rights Party ne The Rainbow Peoples Party ne The White Panthers and were Communist leaning. It was a well founded and interesting discussion. Pun was an intelligent dolt, He possessed intellect, but had a penchant for doing stupid things and a proclivity toward being intransigent. It was quite an enjoyable exchange. They broke out a joint and we each casually took a hit. Couldn’t really refuse. After all, it was the Hash Bash.

The single hit was truly no big deal, except… Ron Fleming blew dope with a person (Pun Plamondon) who made the FBI Ten Most Wanted list!! How many people do you know that can make that statement?

Ron Fleming lived in crazy wild times when he was young and thoroughly enjoyed every delicious minute drinking in every new experience with huge gulps. That was Ron. Many of us were blessed with his friendship during those marvelous times.

For those of you under the age of 60, the following is interesting reading regarding the Ann Arbor CIA bombing in 1968 (ostensibly by Pun) and the aftermath of the incident.

https://www.michigandaily.com…

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Erik Hall

I'm sad to hear about Professor Fleming's passing. The first time I met him was when I was seated with him at my first Glenn Knoll Dinner. He told numerous captivating stories about the history of Ann Arbor and the University. And during our group meetings, he always had a story to share about how a certain isotope was used or a certain radiation technique was employed. There was so much we learned from him.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Julio Diaz

I had the privilege of going abroad with Professor Fleming to Xiamen, China. We found this hidden gem café that became his hangout spot for future trips. We would always get together and reminisce that trip, he'd tell me about his latest adventures; always kept in touch. His humanness and enthusiasm always lite the room. I'll see you later Professor Fleming, rest easy.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Kaisa Wayrynen

1992, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

This is a delightfully "Ron" story I just learned recently. Ron and my mom were very close friends, so when I was born she wanted him to be able to come and go as he pleased at St Joe's hospital, including in the middle of the night. So Ron told the doctors he was my mother's "spiritual advisor" and as such needed 24/7 access (in case she or the baby needed spiritual advising of course). Neither one of them actually had, let alone WAS, a spiritual advisor. But it worked! Once he put his mind to something, Ron came up with solutions no one else could. If you look up the word "ingenuity" in the dictionary, there is a picture of Ron.
(Now that I think about it, Ron was probably the closest thing we ever had to a spiritual advisor anyway, so it's quite fitting).

Read More Read Less

1

3

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Comments:

Krazie Bob

Loved it! Just like Ron! Loved it! Just like Ron! Loved it! Just like Ron!

Emery Haggin

"Ingenuity indeed! I grew up with Ron, and he was one of my closest friends in high school, I remember ... Read more "Ingenuity indeed! I grew up with Ron, and he was one of my closest friends in high school, I remember when He, Roger Meyer ... Read more "Ingenuity indeed! I grew up with Ron, and he was... Read more

Roger Meyer

Ron, Emery Haggin and I were sort of the "three musketeers" in Hoquiam High School.  We did a lot of fun things together, some legal (like writing comedy skits/satires for the Friday morning Assembly programs), and some not so legal (forming a "secret society" with the code name "Mr. Black."  At that time, if we had continued our imaginative escapades we might have  preceded Belushi, Radner, Ferrell, et al on Saturday Night Live, or spent some time in an "orange uniform."  During years in college and shortly after we had a taste of politics, working on political campaigns for a Washington State Senator and for presidential candidate Sen. Barry Goldwater in 1964.  Ultimately, we drifted apart both geographically and politically.  But at our last personal get-together at our high school reunion in 2015, we took off from where we left off, full of piss and vinegar and making telling comments to one another about our self-worth.  Ron was "one of a kind" a brilliant mind that could adapt to any situation, whether it be "on stage", in the laboratory, or debating political positions.  Those of you who experienced his expertise in Nuclear Engineering were in the presence of genius, who was also a great human being.  I treasure the years of friendship that I shared with Ron; his memory will never fade.  May he rest in eternal peace, and may his family be comforted by many fond memories of their time with Ron on Earth.  Heartfelt sympathy to all his family.

Ron, Emery Haggin and I were sort of the "three musketeers" in Hoquiam High School. We did a lot of fun ... Read more Ron, Emery Haggin and I were sort of the "three musketeers" in Hoquiam High School. We did a lot of fun things together, some... Read more Ron, Emery Haggin and I were sort of the "three musketeers"... Read more

Kaisa Wayrynen

2018, Ann Arbor

A night on the town!

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Kaisa Wayrynen

I've known Ron my whole life, and he helped shape me into the person I am today. It is a very strange thing to lose one of the most important people in your life. I was just talking with my mom, Susan, about what happens after death, and we kicked ourselves for never asking Ron—he's the only person whose opinion I would've taken seriously on the matter.
Ron's intelligence, spirit, and all-around quirkiness were entirely unique—always refreshing and exciting to be around—and it is just incomprehensibly sad to think about spending the rest of my life without him in it. But we have so many wonderful memories, which are thankfully as vibrant as Ron was. His voice and mannerisms stand out so vividly. I would give anything to hear him tell one more story about squirrels, dandelions, bicycles, fossils, grad school... I wish I had his words, his vocabulary, to articulate this loss, because nothing I write feels like it does him justice.
Ron never missed an important event with our family, whether it was a childhood play, a middle school graduation, a birthday party... he even flew across oceans to visit. He was unendingly supportive, kind, and funny. This past year he was in my parents' covid bubble and they kept each other (relatively!) sane. My email inbox is lonely without his sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant daily messages.
While I will likely spend the next 30 years (if not the next lifetime) accepting the fact that he left this world so soon, I think any time would feel too soon for someone like him. We should all be so lucky to have such an impact on the world and to live as full a life as he did. We love you, Ron.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Susan Wayrynen

2013

On our UK road trip adventure with Ron and my kids

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Comments:

Krazie Bob

I want to thank you for shepherding Ron during COVID. I know that you were looking after him. He mentioned... Read more I want to thank you for shepherding Ron during COVID. I know that you were looking after him. He mentioned several times that... Read more I want to thank you for shepherding Ron during COVID.... Read more

Sue Wayrynen

2013

Ron loving life at Stonehenge

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Scott Kiff

2002, Baer Room, Cooley Building, Ann Arbor

My introduction to Prof. Fleming was at Allen Seifert's defense in 2002. I was a new graduate student in the department. Prof. Fleming was on the committee and asked Allen to consider a small ruby sphere vibrating at an infinite frequency. Somehow I remember this, and in retrospect it kind of perfectly captures the wonderful uniqueness and insightfulness that was Ron. I am glad I had the chance to interact with Prof. Fleming for more than four years, and only wish that I had taken the time to wander up to his office more often.

Read More Read Less

2

Kaisa Wayrynen

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Pantip Ampornrat

Shared a heart

Close

Lumin Wang

2016, China Palace Restaurant, Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI, USA

Enjoying a meal with the visiting Chinese students

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Lumin Wang

2013, Fuqing, Fuzhou, Fujian, China

Visiting Fuqing nuclear power plant with UM students

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Lumin Wang

2014, Lumin Wang's office, Cooley building.

A nice personal lecture (Lumin Wang)

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Comments:

Adam AvRuskin

Lumin - May I be so bold as to request the use of this photo, for Ron's cover shot. It seems to be perfect.... Read more Lumin - May I be so bold as to request the use of this photo, for Ron's cover shot. It seems to be perfect. Lumin - May I be so bold as to request the use of this... Read more

Lumin Wang

I am deeply saddened by the news that Ron Fleming suddenly passed away. Ron has been a friend to me for nearly 24 years since I came to UM in the summer of 1997. Our offices are next door to each other so we met and talked very often. He is very knowledgeable and kind person. I have learnt a lot from him. I would go to him whenever I had a question on the decay chain of any radionuclide. He seemed to have all that memorized in his mind. Since 2011, he has helped me to organize and teach the summer school on clean energy at Xiamen University of China for UM as well as students from UK and China for 8 summers, and helped me to host students from Xiamen University at UM as well. He is very popular among the young students. I posted the news of his passing away in a Chinese social media yesterday and by today, more than 80 former Chinese students (both studied at NERS or at Xiamen University) expressed their condolence. The following are some of the words from the students:
“Professor Fleming helped me a lot. I took his reactor course. He took me to several restaurants and taught me the American culture as well. His passing away is so sudden and such a shock. Wish him Rest In Peace.” “Every time he was in Xiamen he would always ask me if there was anything he could help. His loving care for and respect to students are hard to describe with language. I will be forever grateful to his kindness and remember the summers in Xiamen with him.” “I will forever cherish the memory of beloved Professor Fleming”. “Professor Fleming is a very nice man. I clearly remember that he took me and Yidan to the Farmers Market over a weekend soon after we arrived Ann Arbor to experience the life of the locals. I am so sad he is gone.” “I have known Professor Fleming since 2014. He has made a big influence to my life. He let me know his family and also visited my family in Sichuan. He witnessed my graduation of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and the enrollment to the Ph.D. program. He proofread my thesis word by word, and told me how to become a qualified scientist. We kept communicating for so many years, even talked over the phone for 2 hours last month and exchanged e-mails last week. He is my honorary grandpa. He lived a full and free life. I will be grateful to and remembering him forever”. ”Professor Fleming’s lectures are full of enthusiasm and magnetism. He let us realized the gap between a world-class teacher and ourselves. I will always remember his passionate lectures."
Ron will be missed by many of us including a lot of former students in China.

Read More Read Less

2

1

Kaisa Wayrynen

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Comments:

Jun Yao

Dear Prof. Wang:

I am very sorry to get the news about Fleming passing away. I don’t know how to express... Read more Dear Prof. Wang:

I am very sorry to get the news about Fleming passing away. I don’t know how to express my sadness. He is... Read more Dear Prof. Wang:

I am very sorry to get the news... Read more

Joseph Schumer

I never got to enjoy one of Ron’s classes while in grad school (being a plasma focus) but actually connected much more strongly with him after I graduated.

I came back to present a colloquium on some crazy “nuclear isomer” work I was doing at NRL under a basic research program and he & I talked extensively after my talk, both at Happy Hour & via email over the next year or so; he gave me lots of great ideas about detector methodologies and actually helped me leverage one of his previous theses to get new funding! Turns out that back in early 70’s Ron placed about half-kilo of silver into the reactor and let it cook for ~18 months…35+ years later the only isotope still active was a unique nuclear isomer Ag-108m. Thru him, I procured a small 5 milliCurie sample and it led to another 3-5 years of work. I loved our conversations; he was a great man and will be truly missed.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Nanjun Chen

Shared a heart

Close

Bob Talbert

A very silly, stupid incident. Tom and Ellen Leonard, Ron, Georgia and I, perhaps the Flynns were all stoned at my house and we were making ice cream by the hand crank method. Being Alpha-Techno-Dweebs, we started commenting on the fact that turning the crank too fast OR too slowly wound not be the best for making ice cream. For many reasons there was an optimum speed. Ever the scientist, Ron suddenly wanted paper and pen. He began writing out Pontryigan's equasions for ice cream crank speed. We stopped him! We couldn't take his erudite approach to ice cream making. It was vanilla ice cream mixed with Mandarin Orange and topped with Grand Marnier. It was excellent!

Read More Read Less

2

Kaisa Wayrynen

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Bob Talbert

Dead and gone! My sadness cannot contain my anger! The world is SO MUCH THE LESSER without him. My own personal world and reality has been thrown out of balance. Ron has taken his final journey across the Styx to the netherworld. Always being prepared for any occurrence, I know that Ron had a token for the Ferryman.

Clarity of thought was his hallmark. A most trenchant mind. Incisive! And omnifarious! He was deeply versed in so many different domains. He loved science, people, politics, food, conversation, cogent reason, Blue Grass and other music, books, and the list of his interests continues endlessly.

For reasons I will never understand albeit deeply appreciate, he took a liking to me and guided me in so many ways. Ron was my mentor academically…and scientifically…and intellectually…and politically…and philosophically…and personally. The debt I owed Ron was unfathomable.

I’d not shed a tear in over a decade. I wept, being apprised of his death. It was 9 AM on the West Coast. I poured myself two fingers (and a small pinch) of Epsolon Reposada, the Tequila of “The Day of the Dead.” Seemed fitting. ‘Twas a warm day, ostensibly to break a hundred in three or four hours thence. I sat, embraced the sun’s warmth, sipped, and unfettered my mind, allowing it to drift aimlessly, reminiscing of so many wonderful times, so many interactions with Ron and friends.

That evening I went to the top of the hills south of town to take in the sunset and remember Ron. It was perfect with just enough clouds on the horizon to engender a beautiful red-orange sky in the afterglow.

Do Svedonya, Moy Luchshiy Droog! Do Svedonya!

Read More Read Less

2

Kaisa Wayrynen

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Valerie Nwadeyi

Professor Fleming, thank you for taking an interest in my thesis work. Your enthusiasm for my Proton therapy problem and Nuclear physics in general, breathed new life into my work which at one point I felt was hopeless. Our conversations were more meaningful than you know. Thank you for blessing our department with your brilliance. You will truly be missed. My condolences to your family 💙🕊

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Imre Pazsit

Ron and I shared a deep interest in the history of our trade, nuclear science. He was enormously knowledgeable and I heard lots of unique and historical stories from him, also references to rare and pioneering works. We had many enjoyable chats on this topics, even if we only met when I was visiting the University of Michigan. It was a privilege that in a course he gave in 2013 with the title "History of the 20th Century", he distributed copies of the booklet "The discovery of nuclear fission - women scientists in highlight" to the students, which I wrote together with a co-author.
Last time I saw Ron was during a video chat last October, when I gave a colloquium at the NERS department via zoom. On such occasions it is customary that the members of the department sign up for a meeting with the speaker and and Ron did so too. He was in a good mood and in apparently good health. Funnily, his web camera must have been overturned during the chat, since Ron appeared on the screen as if lying, i.e. rotated by 90 degrees. But this somehow fit his personality. He was a very unique and kind person who immediately makes an impression. He will be heavily missed.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Imre Pazsit

2009, NERS Department, University of Michigan

I took this photo as a memory of Ron at the end of my visit of one month to the department.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Imre Pazsit

2009, Ann Arbor, MI, at the University of Michigan

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Imre Pazsit

I was very much saddened to hear the news of Ron passing away. He was a very kind and special person, the kind who makes an impact and leaves long standing memories. He will be heavily missed.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Rick Migliore

Ron was my professor in 1990 for the introductory nuclear engineering classes. Many years later we reconnected through a mutual friend, and I was honored to read literally hundreds of e-mails from him in the past 2 years. Very sad to hear of his sudden passing. I miss his wit. My deepest condolences to his family.

Read More Read Less

1

Lisa Galt jones

Close

Notifications

Ronald Fenton Fleming

Memories & condolences

Send flowers

Add to his legacy

Want to see more?

Get grief support

Send flowers

Add to his legacy

Share this memorial website

Notifications

Ronald Fenton Fleming

Memories & condolences

Send flowers

Add to his legacy

Want to see more?

Get grief support

Send flowers

Add to his legacy

Share this memorial website

Stay in the loop

Stay in the loop