A lifelong railroad enthusiast and steam locomotive lover, he specialized in locomotive builder catalogs, paperweights, and the Norfolk & Western Railway. In 1973, he wrote “Norfolk & Western Steam, the last 25 years,” which went through six printings totaling 15,000 copies.
Ron started in the hobby business at Model Railroad Equipment Co. (known locally as “Ma Webster’s Train Store”) on 45th Street in New York. He worked there for a year before going into data processing. In 1988, he and his wife, Ellie, founded Ron’s Books as a second career.
He was an expert in brass modeling, a member of the Atlantic Trunk Lines in Stamford, Ct., and numerous railroad history organizations, including the N&W Historical Society, Seashore Trolley Museum, and Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, of which he served as treasurer of the New York Chapter.
His family, including his son, Lee, plans to continue to operate the business that took his name.
