Obituary for Ronald Compton
Ronald Edward Compton, age 90, died February 17, 2023 at home at Duncaster in Bloomfield, CT surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Nancy Snow Compton.
Ron was born on February 10, 1933 in Evanston, IL to Jere and Estelle Compton. He graduated on June 14, 1954 from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, Ron began a 44-year career with Aetna Life & Casualty starting as a property & casualty underwriter trainee. During Ron's tenure, he assumed increasing responsibilities throughout various Aetna field offices, and named President of American Re-Insurance, an Aetna subsidiary, in 1983. He returned to the Aetna Hartford headquarters in 1987 as Senior Vice President and Executive Assistant to the Office of the Chairman. He was promoted to President in 1988, and in 1991 was named Chairman, President & CEO of Aetna Inc. retaining this position until his retirement in 1998.
Ron married the love of his life, Nancy Virginia Snow, of West Hartford on October 2, 1956 in Karlsruhe, Germany while stationed in the U.S. Army. Nancy's tenacity, adaptability, resilience and profound love provided Ron with the stability necessary for Ron to forge through each Aetna assignment and upheaval for the family. The Comptons have held a lifelong affinity for the arts. Ron served in various Board capacities with The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, The Bushnell, and The Hartford Symphony. Furthering their commitments locally to The Hartt School, Ballet Theatre Company, and The Hartford Dance Collective.
A photographer since his early teens, Ron began to photograph dance in the early 1990s. He had several shows of his dance photographs, as well as an exhibition of photographs taken during his travels of clotheslines around the world. In 1999, Ron published his first dance photography book, "Stillpoint." He opened his fine art photography studio, Creative Image, originally in Hartford in 1989 before moving his studio to Avon, CT in 1998.
Ron and his wife also shared a passion for travel and boating throughout the United States, Caribbean and abroad enjoying many years together with family and friends both on land and the sea.
In addition to his wife, Nancy, Ron leaves behind three children: Erika L. Compton and her husband, Richard S. Bernard of West Hartford, CT, Barbara C. Peterson and her husband, Gary C. Peterson of Millsboro, DE, and Craig S. Compton and his wife, Kay Compton of New Hartford, CT. Ron is also survived by three grandchildren: Adam M. Peterson and his wife, Emily Brudner Peterson, Brian A. Peterson and his wife, Caroline Trimble Peterson, and Mark D. Peterson and his fiancee, Emily M. Esperias; and, great grandchildren, Margaret Peterson, Logan Peterson and Noah Peterson. A stepsister, Traci C. Ward and her husband S. Stephen Ward of Leonard, TX. A nephew, Bradford
D. Snow and his wife Cynthia W. Snow, and daughter Kimberly Snow. Ron was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Chester A. Snow, Jr., and by his cousin, Dr. Mark E. Thoman.
Ron also leaves behind his longtime assistant, and friend, of 36 years, Cynthia A.
Joyce, of Torrington, CT.
There will be no calling hours, arrangements will be private and handled by the Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury.
Ron was born on February 10, 1933 in Evanston, IL to Jere and Estelle Compton. He graduated on June 14, 1954 from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Upon graduation, Ron began a 44-year career with Aetna Life & Casualty starting as a property & casualty underwriter trainee. During Ron's tenure, he assumed increasing responsibilities throughout various Aetna field offices, and named President of American Re-Insurance, an Aetna subsidiary, in 1983. He returned to the Aetna Hartford headquarters in 1987 as Senior Vice President and Executive Assistant to the Office of the Chairman. He was promoted to President in 1988, and in 1991 was named Chairman, President & CEO of Aetna Inc. retaining this position until his retirement in 1998.
Ron married the love of his life, Nancy Virginia Snow, of West Hartford on October 2, 1956 in Karlsruhe, Germany while stationed in the U.S. Army. Nancy's tenacity, adaptability, resilience and profound love provided Ron with the stability necessary for Ron to forge through each Aetna assignment and upheaval for the family. The Comptons have held a lifelong affinity for the arts. Ron served in various Board capacities with The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, The Bushnell, and The Hartford Symphony. Furthering their commitments locally to The Hartt School, Ballet Theatre Company, and The Hartford Dance Collective.
A photographer since his early teens, Ron began to photograph dance in the early 1990s. He had several shows of his dance photographs, as well as an exhibition of photographs taken during his travels of clotheslines around the world. In 1999, Ron published his first dance photography book, "Stillpoint." He opened his fine art photography studio, Creative Image, originally in Hartford in 1989 before moving his studio to Avon, CT in 1998.
Ron and his wife also shared a passion for travel and boating throughout the United States, Caribbean and abroad enjoying many years together with family and friends both on land and the sea.
In addition to his wife, Nancy, Ron leaves behind three children: Erika L. Compton and her husband, Richard S. Bernard of West Hartford, CT, Barbara C. Peterson and her husband, Gary C. Peterson of Millsboro, DE, and Craig S. Compton and his wife, Kay Compton of New Hartford, CT. Ron is also survived by three grandchildren: Adam M. Peterson and his wife, Emily Brudner Peterson, Brian A. Peterson and his wife, Caroline Trimble Peterson, and Mark D. Peterson and his fiancee, Emily M. Esperias; and, great grandchildren, Margaret Peterson, Logan Peterson and Noah Peterson. A stepsister, Traci C. Ward and her husband S. Stephen Ward of Leonard, TX. A nephew, Bradford
D. Snow and his wife Cynthia W. Snow, and daughter Kimberly Snow. Ron was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Chester A. Snow, Jr., and by his cousin, Dr. Mark E. Thoman.
Ron also leaves behind his longtime assistant, and friend, of 36 years, Cynthia A.
Joyce, of Torrington, CT.
There will be no calling hours, arrangements will be private and handled by the Vincent Funeral Home in Simsbury.