Remembering Ron Wilkinson, Commissioning Pioneer
By RANDI ROGNLIE, Visiting Professor, Construction Management, Montana Technical University
The world of mechanical engineering and commissioning lost a friend and dedicated colleague earlier this year, just a few days after his 77th birthday. In true Ron Wilkinson fashion, he died doing what he enjoyed, riding his E-bike to the grocery store near his beautiful Pacific Northwest home, likely to gather ingredients for one of his delicious creations for partner Edie Rutledge.
Ron Wilkinson did not slow down in his retirement. If he had lived to be 100, he wouldn’t have slowed down. Anyone who knew Ron even slightly would agree. For those of you who didn't know him, I urge you to read Ron’s formal obituary, which described him perfectly: www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/seattle-wa/ronald-wilkinson-12734882.
He was truly one of a kind, and even that seems like an understatement.
I first met Ron many years ago, when he working for the State of Montana in the State Architect’s office. As a construction manager, I depended on Ron for any and all mechanical engineering advice, and soon Ron introduced the practice of commissioning to our admittedly, somewhat unsophisticated industry in Montana around 2000.
After much hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth by my fellow engineers and contractors, commissioning (Cx) finally took off and people began to understand its importance locally, all thanks to Ron. In truth, he launched the industry here, and then took it on the road, to New York and elsewhere.
But wherever he worked, Ron was principled. He never backed down. Of course, there isn’t a building or mechanical retrofit project now in Montana that doesn’t involve Cx. But his efforts here saved far more than just the cost of Cx in mechanical efficiency, maintenance expenses, and three important costs in the construction industry: Time; Warranty Callbacks; and Preemptive Conflict Resolution.
When Ron was called to bigger and better things in New York City, the legacy he left us with, besides his wonderful children, was immeasurable. Those who knew him professionally will miss his intellect and wisdom. Those who knew him personally will forever miss his creativity, dedication to family and friends and without a doubt, his unique brand of humor.
Hearing of Ron’s death was a shock. He took great care of both his physical and mental health, riding his bicycle with passion throughout retirement, working feverishly with partner Edie on their home landscaping projects, and always, always thinking deeply about a wide variety of subjects, from science to art to personal experiences. Ron was genuinely curious, seemingly about everything.
Some have described him as "brilliant" and I’ve heard “quirky” tossed about, too, but what impressed me most was how Ron genuinely cared for the people in his life, including his professional life. I have worked in the engineering and construction world for over 40 years, so I know a little about the general personality of engineers. Ron shattered the stereotype. His sense of humor was indescribably creative. His family Christmas letters were hilarious. And who but Ron could write humorous stories about mechanical building systems in cold climates?
Yes, the mechanical engineering and Cx world has lost someone very special, a man who celebrated the unique and original in this world and in each of us. So ride your bicycle, laugh with friends, watch an offbeat movie, and read any episode of Ron’s creative gift to engineering, The Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer. And after you do any of those things, please take a moment to smile and raise a glass of orange juice to one of the genuine good guys... Ron Wilkinson, P.E., LEED, AP CPMP!
