My friend Ron Shuker,
I was saddened to hear about the recent death of my friend and co-editor at Plumbing & HVAC magazine, Ron Shuker. Ron founded this magazine, originally known as Mechanical Buyer & Specifier, with two partners. He has created a lasting legacy within the plumbing and HVAC/R industry that has now spanned decades. His creative vision helped mould the magazine into what it remains today.
Over his lengthy career at Heating, Plumbing, and Air Conditioning magazine, Ron served as editor for many years. He was a prolific writer on industry topics and was well-known and respected in the industry. Ron passed away on Jan. 22.
I met Ron in 1998 when the magazine was split into separate publications, one serving the plumbing industry and the other HVAC/R. Ron welcomed me as editor of the new plumbing edition.
Ron was a very easy person to work with. We spent a lot of time together at shows, conferences and other events. He was always upbeat and good-natured. Ron touched a lot of people and brought industry writers such as Art Irwin and Roy Collver, among others, into our publication.
I will always remember the laid-back planning meeting/barbecues that Ron hosted at his acreage northeast of Toronto, where our staff set goals for the following year. After Ron left, he went on to become executive director of the HVAC Heritage Centre Canada. When he retired, I heard that he had moved back to his native Vancouver Island.
Godspeed my friend!
Simon Blake, retired editor of Plumbing & HVAC magazine for over 20 years.