Ronald “Ron” J. Abdow ’54

Ronald “Ron” J. Abdow ’54 of Longmeadow, Mass.; Jan. 22. He excelled as a two-way end for Brown’s football team. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy for two years followed by work in his father’s scrap iron business in Worcester before becoming a Big Boy franchise owner in Massachusetts and Connecticut with his brother George. He remained in the restaurant business for nearly 50 years. He was known for his philanthropy, community leadership, involvement in Brown athletics, and his career as a Division 1 college football official. He officiated numerous perennial rivalries and in the 1988 Orange Bowl, which saw Miami beat Oklahoma for the national title. In 1997, he was recognized by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. He served as chair of several boards, trustee for Baystate Medical Center, and director for several regional banks. He also served as a member of the Brown Sports Foundation. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Gladys Abdow. He is survived by three children and their spouses, including Steven ’81 and David ’83, and five grandchildren.