Memories of Ronald Fenton Fleming

In memory of

Ronald Fenton Fleming

Ann Arbor, MI, USA

February 13, 1937 - June 2, 2021

Feb 13, 1937 - Jun 2, 2021

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Lumin Wang

2016, China Nuclear Power Engineering Fuqing nuclear power project unit, Fuqing, Fuzhou, Fujian, China

Ron enjoyed traveling to China with UM students. — with Ron Fleming and Lumin Wang with a group of UM students and Fuqing NPP staff

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Comments:

Lumin Wang

Ron traveled to China with UM students at least 8 times during 2010-2018. He really enjoyed these trips. Ron traveled to China with UM students at least 8 times during 2010-2018. He really enjoyed these trips. Ron traveled to China with UM students at least 8 times... Read more

Patty Shaw

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Patty Shaw

Diane Larocque

2024, Elma, WA, USA

I'll always miss you. ❤️

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Patty Shaw

Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Ronald's family or funeral.

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Adam AvRuskin

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Nick Touran

This short documentary has a few awesome clips of Professor Fleming sitting in the grass talking about climate and energy.

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Lisa Galt jones

Comments:

Anne Fleming

Thank you for sharing this. So nice to see him Thank you for sharing this. So nice to see him Thank you for sharing this. So nice to see him

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Adam AvRuskin

We have gathered photos from various stages of Ron's life and compiled a memory slideshow. Thank you, Sarah Norman, at the University of Michigan for your help.

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Lisa Galt jones

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Eva Davidson

2012, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

I was sad to hear about Prof. Fleming's passing. I took a course on neutron scattering from him and absolutely enjoyed it! He was truly inspiring and was always very enthusiastic about nuclear energy. He always left plenty of references on my desk to help me out with my thesis research. One time when I felt like I was stuck in a rut with my research, spinning my wheels, the frequency of the references appearing on my desk increased. Then finally, I had a breakthrough and Prof. Fleming wanted to hear all about it and said, "Eva, progress is made in quantum leaps!" and he had a huge smile on his face. I will always remember his smile and will miss seeing him when I drop by the department for a visit.

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Lisa Galt jones

Emily (Wolters) Shemon

I would like to send my deepest condolences to Ronald's family, friends, and colleagues. He was a most inspirational figure in the nuclear engineering community, and he left a lasting impact on me. I have often been asked "what on earth inspired you to pursue nuclear engineering(?!)". The answer is: Professor Ron Fleming. I first met Prof. Fleming when I elected to take his introductory course on nuclear engineering (for non-majors!) in Fall 2001 at the Univ. of Michigan. Shortly after classes began, our nation was tragically attacked on Sept 11 followed immediately by unrelated domestic anthrax attacks. As a college sophomore trying to decide on a major, Professor Fleming sucked me (and maybe others) in with his ability to communicate the effectiveness of nuclear technologies for national security, power, medical and other applications. The absolute need to harness nuclear potential in a POSITIVE way became clear as day to me in that semester and I declared my major as nuclear engineering soon after. I was fortunate enough to take a future lab course with Prof. Fleming as well later on in my college days. He knew more about neutron activation experiments than anyone I ever met... He truly inspired so many with his zeal for learning, and how much he loved to teach. I am so grateful for conversations with him in classrooms, hallways, and even just out and about on campus. I regret that I did not have the opportunity to personally tell him how much his class and conversations impacted me and guided my future. Rest in peace, Prof. Fleming.

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Lisa Galt jones

Yuni Dewaraja

2014, Ann Arbor

Dr. Fleming retirement reception. 3 generations of NERS PhD advisors. Dr. Vincent, his student Dr. Carpenter, his student Dr. Fleming and his student myself (Yuni Dewaraja)

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Lisa Galt jones

Yuni Dewaraja

1941, Kansas City

A few years ago Dr. Fleming sent my teenage daughter a photo of himself as a toddler when she was surprised to hear that he was over 80!

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Lisa Galt jones

Comments:

Yuni Dewaraja

Here is his message sent along with the photo: Here is his message sent along with the photo: Here is his message sent along with the photo:

Yuni Dewaraja

Yuni -

Thanks for the picture, and the fine evening, and the great son !

This is for Anisha, and you... Read more Yuni -

Thanks for the picture, and the fine evening, and the great son !

This is for Anisha, and you can see that we already... Read more Yuni -

Thanks for the picture, and the fine evening,... Read more

Yuni Dewaraja

So sorry to hear about Dr. Fleming's passing away. He was my PhD advisor 25 - 30 years ago and inspired me to stay in academia. We kept is touch the past several years but alas not during the last year. I wish I had. I loved listening to his stories and he surely will be missed. My son Ashwin Fujii also had the good fortune to get to know Dr. Fleming as he went with him to China in the summer during his undergrad at Michigan Engineering a few years ago.
Hope to get to attend a memorial service.

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Lisa Galt jones

Mark Read

2015, Xiamen University, Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China

Deeply saddened on hearing of Ron’s passing, I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I had the privilege of meeting Ron during my first visit to Xiamen Nuclear Energy Summer School in 2015 – he relished taking me to his recently discovered cafes and restaurants and showing me how to ‘live well’ in Xiamen!

Lecturing in the tropical heat presented its challenges, but I always enjoyed being part of the discussions that accompanied his lectures on nuclear safety, he was a wonderful and erudite orator and encouraged so many questions from the students.

I was honoured when Ron attended my lectures and would gain a great deal of satisfaction every time I digressed onto a historical anecdote or drop the PowerPoint for the chalk and board, on seeing Ron leaning back, beaming with approval and appreciation! I even felt very proud when I saw him nodding and comment to his students “He’s right you know…”! After several years, I asked why he still came to my lectures as surely he’d heard it all before, his reply was wonderful – “Oh Mark, I’m here for the show!”. I learnt so much from Ron over the course of these visits and enjoyed being in his company immensely.

After a day’s lecturing we would retire for a meal and often a bar with a view over the sea where the evening would vanish so quickly as we chatted away, covering all of the interests mentioned in his eulogy! I’ll always remember Ron’s sage advice as, replete after our meal, we would raise a glass to life and he would quote - “Living well is the best revenge”…

It is evident that Ron led a full life and has been an inspiration to many, he will be sorely missed and in our hearts forever.

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Lisa Galt jones

Mark Read

2017, Xiamen, Fujian, China

"Living well is the best revenge ..."

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Lisa Galt jones

Ayman Hawari

I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Ron’s family, friends, students, and to everyone that was fortunate enough to know him. I am one of a handful of students that were supervised in my graduate studies by Ron. I still remember our first meeting that lived up to everything that is Ron. I came in ready to discuss my project. Instead, Ron asked me to put away my notes and we went to lunch, with other group members, and discussed everything about life, religion, politics but not nuclear engineering. This became a weekly ritual that I still reminisce about. Nevertheless, with his coaching, I did complete my project and graduate. Through the years, I saw Ron during my visits to Ann Arbor. We also enjoyed a few runs to Dearborn’s Middle Eastern restaurants. Our last encounter was in 2019 and he was just as active and vibrant as I can remember. It will be hard to imagine that he’s no longer there.

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Diane Larocque

My brother, Ron, was such a special person. It does my heart good to see how important and special he was to all of you as well. He was the big brother who always looked out for me and the one I always turned to for advice. He always let me tag along as a child..& even in 2015 when he took me to his class reunion weekend at Ocean Shores! He leaves a huge hole no one can or will ever fill! But all your pictures and memories are a big help in our healing process. On behalf of all our family, I thank you from the bottom of my heart... Diane Fleming LaRocque

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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 high school Assembly programs), and some not so legal (forming a "secret society" with the code name "Mr. Black", which caught the attention of the FBI). At that time, if we had continued our imaginative escapades we might well have preceded John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Will 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. Emery became a high school teacher and coach in California, I a physician and surgeon in Georgia, and Ron opted for a career in "rocket science", befitting his intellectual capacities. But at our last personal get-together at our high school reunion in 2015 in Washington State, we went right on from where we left off, full of piss and vinegar and making telling comments to one another about our self-worth. Ron was always more "grounded" and full of humor than most people of high intelligence who took themselves too seriously. Ron was "one of a kind", a brilliant mind that could adapt to any situation, whether it be "on stage", in the laboratory, debating political positions, or any thing or place in which he found himself. Those of you who experienced his expertise in Nuclear Engineering were in the presence of a 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. Time to start a new journey to Eternity, good buddy and dear friend! Hugs and Grizzly growls! Heartfelt sympathy to all his family. Roger A. Meyer, Greensboro, Georgia

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Geehyun Kim

2012, Baer Room, Cooley Building, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

At Dr. Manhee Jeong’s defense. Just about the time he retired.

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Comments:

Geehyun Kim

Needless to say, his very unique personality and academic style have influenced lots of lots of people. I... Read more Needless to say, his very unique personality and academic style have influenced lots of lots of people. I think I am also one ... Read more Needless to say, his very unique personality and academic... Read more

Brian McIntosh

2009, Sunriver, OR, USA

Katherine, Anne and Ron @ Anne's wedding

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Lisa Galt jones

Natallia Pinchuk

If I could only use one word to describe Professor Fleming it would be "Authenticity". He was the most real authentic person I can think of. And also an independent mind, critical thinker, and clear communicator. A man ahead of his times, who inspired generations of young minds to be better than themselves and strive to make the world a better place. He'll be dearly missed.

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Lisa Galt jones

Patricia Schuster

I am so sad to hear of Ron's passing, and for the loss of the future NERS students who will not get to work with him. Ron had such a positive perspective on all things life and science, and his enthusiasm was contagious. My favorite conversations with Ron happened when he would pop into my office around 10 AM, Zingerman's coffee in hand, assuring me that he wouldn't stay long because he was (as usual) double parked in the Cooley parking lot. Then we would talk for an hour and he would ask what I was up to and give me some extra perspective on whatever I was doing at the moment. He made me so happy because he genuinely wanted to hear about my work, and he always listened carefully and thoughtfully as I explained everything on the white board, and occasionally exclaim "a-ha, now I get what you're after." Then he'd take off and I'd go back to work, only to find an email in my inbox a few hours later with his thoughts and lots of scanned documents, nudging me in the right direction. Ron was an amazing person and I am so lucky to have known him. Thank you for creating this website so we can share our memories-- it is really wonderful to read all the stories here. - Patricia Schuster

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Imre Pazsit

Lisa Galt jones

Comments:

Bob Talbert

Nice story. Thank you. Ron was like this even in the late 60s and early 70s when he was working on his ... Read more Nice story. Thank you. Ron was like this even in the late 60s and early 70s when he was working on his own PHD. He gleaned... Read more Nice story. Thank you. Ron was like this even in ... Read more

Ram Venkataraman

I am deeply saddened to learn of Prof. Fleming's passing. I am one of the people who was fortunate enough to be mentored by him. Prof. Fleming was my mentor and my doctoral thesis adviser. The kindness and encouragement he showed me as I was going through my graduate program at U of Michigan was incredible. Whatever professional success I have had in my career, it is all because of what I learned from Prof. Fleming. He was a brilliant scientist, an excellent teacher, and above all a great human being. My heartfelt condolences to his family and to U of Michigan Nuclear Engineering community.

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Lisa Galt jones

Shikha Prasad

I took a class from Prof. Fleming on History of Nuclear. He was very inspirational and made us realize the significance of Nuclear Engineering for the society at large. He made us feel connected through the stories of physics and history that he would intertwine. He was a great source of inspiration and will continue to be.

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In response to "How did you first meet Ronald?"

Lisa Galt jones

Myron January

My deepest condolences to Ron’s family. May he Rest In Peace. I remember him from
Our 60th High School Reunion. We talked some about our days in Hoquiam High School. As I now live in Texas I will not be able to attend his Memorial Service but he will be in my thoughts.

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Lisa Galt jones

Nick Touran

2006, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Very sad to hear of Professor Fleming's passing. I think of him regularly and probably always will. It was such a joy to be in the room with him. We were always so awe-struck at the firehose of knowledge coming to us in such a caring and interesting way.

A few memorable quotes...

Fleming's Proliferation: "There's nothing you can do to plutonium that I can't undo in my bathtub"

Fleming's Challenge: "If millions of people die from global warming then it will be nuclear engineers' fault. We had the solution but didn't package it into a form acceptable to the public."

One year he taught a 2-credit class about the history of nuclear enterprise. The final project was to write a new wikipedia page on some nuclear history item. I scanned some old material from the Bentley Library nearby for the wikipedia page for the then recently-retired Ford Nuclear Reactor. I enjoyed the experience so much that I've continued doing more wikipedia pages thanks to him.

And for one of the more eyebrow-raising comments ever made in a nuclear lecture, we were talking about the Voyager probes once and he was explaining that some opponents of their plutonium RTGs were putting numbers out talking about millions and millions of cancer deaths in an accident scenario. He reverse-engineered the math and found that they had assumed that each inhaled particulate would cause one cancer death. He then paused for like 5 seconds with his hand on his mouth. He proceeded: "By that same argument, I could impregnate 200 million women ...[long pause]...tonight!" That woke everyone up for sure.

But seriously, he really was an utterly unique and wonderful teacher and mentor. I'll miss him greatly.

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