Ronald A. Resare

We all miss Ron incredibly but are comforted in knowing that he has been reunited with his dear wife of 33 years, Cyntha, and the herds of Golden retrievers excitedly waiting for him in heaven.

Always prepared and taking care of every detail, Ron wrote the following in February 2020 and we wanted to share his exact words:

Commander Ronald A. Resare, US Navy (retired) was born 10 November 1937 in Evergreen Park (Chicago), IL, to the late Nils A. Resare and Victoria (Peterson) Resare. The youngest of 50 first cousins, both in the USA and Sweden, he spent his early years in Chicago with an enclave of many Swedish-American aunts, uncles and cousins. Shortly after World War II, his family moved to Chesterton, IN, the “Gateway to the Indian Dunes” on Lake Michigan. He graduated from Chesterton High School and enrolled in Purdue University where he majored in biology, and more importantly, was accepted in the Naval Reserve Officer Corps (NROTC) in 1955. His first ship (for summer training) was the battleship USS New Jersey (BB62) which visited Oslo, Norway, and Portsmouth, England, with a side trip to Paris. That cruise resulted in his decision to make the US Navy a career. He spent his second summer training in a submarine, then amphibious and Navy air indoctrination. His third summer was also significant, for while en route to join the new USS Ranger (CVA61) in Norfolk , VA, for a repositioning cruise around Cape Horn to Alameda, CA, he met the love of his life, Cyntha Archer, on a train on which they were both bound for a stop In Washington, DC. They got engaged that year, and exchanged many letters {this was before the internet}. Ron was commissioned in May 1959, and was assigned to a very new destroyer, USS Edson (DD946) homeported in Long Beach, CA. Back in those days one needed to qualify as a surface line officer in destroyers before going into submarines, which he planned on doing. However, he enjoyed destroyers so much, he opted not to apply for sub school. While in EDSON, he and Cyntha (who was at Mills College in Oakland, CA) continued their long distance romance. Unfortunately they broke up late 1960 and they eventually went on to marry other people, and both were blessed with wonderful sons.

Ron’s duties took him to other ships, mostly destroyers (but included a tour as Executive Officer of USS Blue Ridge (LCC19) before getting command of USS Vogelgesang (DD862) in Newport, RI, in 1977 through Dec, 1979. He spent a year (1968-1969) in Viet Nam, Military Assistance Command, where he visited many US and ARVN units throughout the country. His shore tours started after three years at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned an MS in Physics (nuclear effects). His follow-on shore tours were in Test Command in Albuquerque, NM; Military Research Assistant at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in Livermore, CA; and Department of Energy HQ in Germantown, MD. He was promoted to Captain in 1980, but retired in 1981 as CDR, to spend some time with his sons Nils and David and former wife, Susan (Graham) Resare before the boys left home .

After retirement from the Navy, he worked as a weapons management consultant at the Naval Undersea Weapons Center, Newport, RI. for several years. In 1985, Cyntha tracked him down at the request of a long-time mutual friend in California. They were married in 1986. They lived in Portsmouth and Bristol, RI, for several years, and after Ron suffered a heart attack, he was retired again. In the meantime starting before the heart attack, they acquired an old house in Bristol, on Hope Street, the site of the oldest continuous Fourth of July Parade in the US. They rebuilt the house from the inside out, gutted it while living in it, rewired it, changed the layout entirely, new bathrooms, kitchens, even new stairs to the second and third floors. They enjoyed beautiful views from the new third floor balcony overlooking Bristol Harbor.

After too many years in the awful winters of RI, they moved to Citrus County, FL, in 1999, and happily raised Golden Retrievers, and have been active in church and Rotary International. Ron was commander of the Portsmouth, RI VFW post, president of the Scandinavian-American Club and was a volunteer Guardian ad Litem, all for several years. Unfortunately, his hearing got so bad, he had to give up many activities he loved. 

Ron’s later years in Citrus County were spent with his loving companion and special friend, Dora Chase. Together they shared many adventures and trips, continuing to enjoy and savor life. Dora’s family became Ron’s and vice versa.

His initial inclination was to have his ashes scattered at sea so that if any of the kids wanted to visit him, they would only have to go to the beach. Now, much more appropriately, he will join Cyntha in Bushnell (Florida) National Cemetery. 

Ron was predeceased by his wife of 33 years, Cyntha, sister, Ruth Phalen, niece Vicki Donhoe, and stepson, Christopher Poage. Ron is survived by his sons and their families, Nils Resare (wife Maree, sons Duncan and Aleksandr) and David Resare (wife Kimberly, sons William and Malcolm), his stepsons and their families, Peter Poage (wife Kathy, children Mia and Ryan), Christopher’s wife Ginny and their children Maddie, Alex, and Nick, and Matt Poage (wife Priscilla, sons Finnegan and Andrew), nephew Scott Ostlund, niece Tracy Morency, extended family in the U.S. and Sweden, and dear friends whom Ron always considered family.

Services are planned for July 9, 2026 at noon at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Inverness, Florida followed by interment where he will be laid to rest beside Cyntha at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

Instead of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to Rotary International Foundation through the Inverness Club in his memory. He loved having exchange students and exchange foreign rotary prospective members from all over the world. Have to say the five special ones were Anders from Sweden, Kate from New Zealand, Abraham from Spain, Gustav from Sweden and Fernando from Paraguay. Love to all of you who visited and made life so interesting and great fun.

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