Ronald P. Sandmeyer
On May 23, 2025, formerly of Haddonfield and Haddon Heights, NJ and McKeesport, PA ;
Beloved husband of Elaine (nee Holsing); Loving father of Ronald P., Jr. (Alice), Rodney (Tracey) and Richelle Sandmeyer Maestro; Treasured grandfather of Paul (Liz), Rebecca (Sheldon Lavis), Lindsay (Kevin Stauffer) and Diana (Eddie Dranoff); step-grandfather of Kathleen Carr (Aaron Miller), Jack Carr (Lizi Rosenfield), and James Carr (Brenda Ni); Cherished great grandfather of R.P. and Harper Sandmeyer, and Tessa and Owen Stauffer; step-great grandfather of Nina Carr and Frannie Carr Miller; and Dear brother of Gary Cogley (Mindy). Predeceased by siblings Robert Sandmeyer, Marilyn Kachmar, Bruce Cogley, Judi Sandmeyer, and Jay Sandmeyer.
Ron’s passions in life were his family, his business, and engaging with people. He was always one to get involved and get things done. Born to humble beginnings in depression-era McKeesport, Pennsylvania, the son of Paul C. Sandmeyer and Elda C. Roney, Ron lived every day of his life to the fullest.
Ron was first and foremost a people person. With his larger than life, warm gregarious personality, he made friends with everyone. He engaged everyone in conversation and was genuinely interested in them, no matter what they did or where they came from. He was a cheerleader in high school and remained a cheerleader for others for the rest of his life, inspiring people with his positive attitude and energetic enthusiasm.
After graduating from McKeesport High School in 1948 (where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996), Ron took his first job as Assistant to the Manager of Circulation at the McKeesport Daily News. After completing active service in the United States Army in 1952, he married Elaine Holsing in September 1953 and started college at Washington & Jefferson College. Elaine, who he fondly introduced as “my first wife,” was the love of his life for 71 years. After his freshman year at W & J, Ron and Elaine went to Philadelphia for Ron to take what was supposed to be a summer job at the fledging Sandmeyer Steel Company, which his father Paul had just founded in 1952. They never returned and this marked the start of his illustrious business career. In 1969 Ron was named President and CEO at the young age of 39, when Paul unexpectedly passed away. He led the Company for the next 28 years, during which it grew to be recognized as one of the country’s leading producers of stainless steel plate products used in capital equipment for the chemical and other process industries. He continued to serve as Chairman of the Board after his retirement from full-time service in 1997 until his passing. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of successfully transitioning the business to the next generations, sons Ron and Rod, and now grandson Paul. He cared deeply about the Sandmeyer Steel employees. To Ron, they were more than employees, they were his “extended Sandmeyer Family.” He was dedicated to them, and they to him. While he believed in hard work, he also believed we should enjoy work, often saying “If we’re not having fun, then we should be doing something else.”
A strong advocate for the business community, Ron served for many years as a Director of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). He served as Co-Chairman of CUE, a subsidiary of the NAM dedicated to promoting positive employee relations. His advocacy extended to the political arena, where he was active in Republican politics in Haddon Heights, Camden County and New Jersey, including serving as a Reagan delegate from New Jersey to the Republican National Conventions in 1980 and 1984.
Ron always found time to give back to the community, having served as Chairman of the Haddon Heights Planning Board and the Haddon Heights Youth Athletics and as a member of the Haddon Heights Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Ron attended Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA, where he belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He later served as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees for over twenty years, including eight years as Chairman of the Board. In May 2002, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. The college remained a special place for him as he continued to serve as Trustee Emeritus until his passing.
Ron was a member for 68 years, and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees, of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church. He also attended the North Naples Church in Florida. Socially, he maintained memberships at Tavistock Country Club, where he served on the Board of Governors, The Union League of Philadelphia, Huntingdon Valley Country Club and the Pennsylvania Society.
Away from work and his other activities, Ron loved the beach and the ocean. For over 45 years he and Elaine enjoyed winters in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico. More recently they had become part of the Naples, Florida, winter community. During the summer months, he enjoyed spending as much time as possible in Avalon, NJ. He loved cooking on the grill on his deck in Avalon surrounded by family and friends. He loved to travel and did so extensively. One of the most memorable journeys was a 25-year wedding anniversary celebration trip, when Ron and Elaine cruised on the QE2 from New York to Southampton and returned on the supersonic Concorde aircraft.
An avid antique car collector, Ron loved big cars. His collection of up to 17 cars consisted mostly of Cadillacs and Lincoln Town Cars. His black 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was his favorite.
Ron’s family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, June 6th, 9:30-10:45 am, in the Sanctuary of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, where his Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 am. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ron may be made to the Church at the above address, designated for the Ronald P. and Elaine H. Sandmeyer Building Preservation Fund (www.haddonfieldumc.org/give) or to the North Naples Church, 6000 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples, FL 34109.