Our co-founder and Artistic Director, Ron Milton passed away suddenly on Thursday. Here is an obituary provided by his family. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Milton family and the many lives Ron so profoundly touched.
Ronald Ivan Milton, beloved husband, father, friend and artist, left us suddenly on Thursday, April 29th, 2021.
Ron was an artist and educator who touched hundreds of lives, likely thousands. He served as Artistic Director for Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest on Bainbridge Island for 18 years, a company he helped found. In that role he directed dozens of musicals, operas, and operettas doing what he did best - achieving outstanding performances from casts composed of all ages and all experience levels. Ron loved working with talented youth performers and aspiring young designers most of all and impacted a generation on Bainbridge and beyond.
He loved animals and gardening and took great pleasure in nurturing living things. He loved his family most of all. His daughter Piper was the great light and joy of his life. His wife and creative partner of 41 years, Marijane, was his muse and best friend.
Ron was born in Chelan, Washington to Robert and Violet Milton on November 25th, 1950. He graduated from Wenatchee High School and went on to earn a BA in Theatre from Western Washington University. He later completed his MFA in Theatre Directing at the University of Houston. Throughout his life as an actor, director, fine artist, and designer he worked on more than 200 productions and won many awards, honors, and accolades.
Ron is survived by his wife Marijane; daughter Piper; sister Cindy Downey (Brian); brothers Robert (Sherry), Max (Mary), and Joseph (Lori Hoptowit) Milton; his mother-in-law Patricia Parly; sister-in-law Sally Schlosstein, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws, as well as his Ovation! family. A ceremony of his memorable life will be held in the fall on Bainbridge Island.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donating in his name to ‘Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest’ or West Sound Wildlife Shelter.
He will forever be in our circle