RONALD BOYD

Celebration of Life

Ronald Boyd (affectionately known as Ron) was born to Anna Lee Rouse and Quincy Boyd on

July 8, 1951, at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital. Ron has four siblings; Diane Barrow,

Raymond James, and Robert Boyd, who preceded him in death. At an early age, Ron discovered

his passion for art, transforming his creativity into a lifelong career. As a child he attended

Dunbar High school where he studied commercial arts. He was raised in the faith of Jehovah’s

Witnesses by his parents. His alignment with God informed many of his philosophies and the

kindness extended toward others throughout his life.

Ron’s talents led him to become a commercial artist, but he was much more than that. Ron

brought visions to life with his innate skill and boundless imagination. He worked with various

mediums, including photography, videography, documentaries, and painting. He briefly served

as the Creative Service Manager at Hysan Corporation, and he created a video survey of the

entire city of Chicago-that predated and later informed Google Maps. Throughout his tenure at

Chicago’s Columbia College teaching Television and Media, he excelled at encouraging others

to work together and bringing their talents into a shared vision. He was a creative entrepreneur

whose work graced countless projects including projects for CBS and WTTW.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ron had an innate ability to find beauty in the everyday,

reminding us to see the world through a creative lens. He was a voracious reader and avid

collector of comic books. On any given day in the summer, you could find him with his clubs on

the golf course. He was a lover of jazz music. Ron was well traveled and, in his youth, went

scuba diving all over the world. He also loved exploring new cultures and learned Thai and

Vietnamese while spending time in both countries for work.

Family was at the heart of Ron’s life. Ron fell in love and married Cynthia Barnes on October 1,

1988. The woman who shared his heart also shared the same birthday, only a year apart. They

were married for 28 years until her death in 2017. As a loving father of four, he shared his

values of kindness, creativity, and humor with his children, Yvette Michelle, Michael Terrell,

Whitney Alecia, and Jonathan Ian. He always encouraged them to chase their dreams. His

children inherited his artistic talents, compassion for others, and ears.

Ron’s legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. While we will deeply miss

his laughter and artistic spirit, we celebrate a life well-lived and honor the indelible mark he left

on the world.

Ronald leaves to cherish his memory, his children Yvette, Michael, Whitney, and Jonathan; his

sister Diane Barrow, his brother Raymond James, his sister and brother-in-law Alecia (Lesa) and

Collar Lewis; grandchildren Angelo, Miles and Mingus; his beloved cat Khaleesi, and a host of

family and friends.

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." – From French artist Edgar

Degas

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of RONALD BOYD, please visit our floral store.