Hampden, Maine - Cdr. Ronald George Goldstone (USN-ret.) died peacefully at home on January 24, 2026, after a life marked by service, intellect, and accomplishment. Born on February 22, 1935, in Geneva, New York, Ron was the eldest of four sons of Samuel Goldstone and Philomena (Phyllis) Di Pillo.

A gifted student and athlete, he graduated from Geneva High School in 1953 and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1957, was commissioned as an Ensign, and earned a BS in communications engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

He served for 22 years as a naval officer, retiring in 1979. His career included shipboard and shore assignments in the Pacific and Mediterranean, overseas service in Okinawa, staff roles at the Pentagon, and four years in Brussels with NATO. He had a pivotal senior operational role during the Cold War, fully aware of the consequences of error and the weight of that responsibility.

Following his naval retirement, he worked in programming and logistics management at Raytheon in Portsmouth, RI. In 1994, he and his wife established a permanent home in Maine, where he embraced civic life. He was elected to the Dexter Town Council, was active in the Kiwanis, and hosted two weekly talk shows on local FM station WDME.

An avid reader, he kept meticulous records of hundreds of books enjoyed over decades. He was a talented artist whose canvases and prints were exhibited and admired. He fulfilled a lifelong ambition to learn the five-string banjo, played bridge with enthusiasm, golfed regularly, and - despite being from New York - was a devoted fan of the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. He was a prolific and passionate contributor to the letters section of newspapers in Maine and Florida, writing with care and conviction. He traveled extensively with his wife, conquering 38 countries.

He married Beverly Jean Lancaster of Dexter in 1960. She was his best friend and companion for 65 years and the center of his life. Ron is also survived by special nieces and nephews; his faithful poodle, Penny; and his daughter, Elisabeth, who mourns the loss of her North Star. He was predeceased by his three younger brothers, Gene, Tom, and Ed.

Those who knew him will remember a man of dry wit and quiet integrity - a true Renaissance man whose curiosity never dimmed and whose sense of duty never wavered.