Ronald Field

Ronald Geoffrey Field, age 85. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ronald (‘Ronnie’) Geoffrey Field. Husband to Sophie, brother to Rosemary Geldart and Margaret Toro and father to Audrey, Julian, Corina and Geoffrey, he led a full life and leaves behind ten wonderful grandchildren. Born in Rosario, Argentina on Jan. 18, 1933, he was the son of Geoffrey, a British banker and Veronica, an Anglo-Dutch school teacher. While still a boy, his family moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he became a Sea Scout and acquired a life-long love of boats and sailing which he would pass on to his children. After a few years his family returned to Argentina, this time to Buenos Aires. Here he attended St George’s College where he excelled academically, played rugby for the school’s First XV team and became an accomplished pole-vaulter. When not at school he rowed for the Tigre Boating Club and became one of Argentina’s most distinguished single-scullers. He declined the opportunity to attend university in Canada so that he could marry the love of his life, Sophie Nugent. Following completion of compulsory military service in the Argentine army he joined Agar Cross as an apprentice chemist. In time he would join the chemical company Monsanto with whom he and his young family moved to Caracas, Venezuela where he and Sophie would live for 38 years. The warm climate and extraordinary geography suited Ronnie perfectly and he and his family spent many happy years exploring the country, camping on beaches and in mountains, swimming, snorkelling, fishing and sailing. When not travelling, Ronnie could be found playing tennis at the Caracas Sports Club or playing bridge with friends. In 2002 Ronnie and Sophie moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., to be closer to their daughter Corina, then a practicing pediatrician in the city. They were made to feel very welcome and soon came to call Chattanooga home. Ronnie satisfied his love for sailing by keeping a small sailing boat on the Tennessee River and watching his grandchildren learn to sail brought him great joy. Ronnie was a voracious reader and very knowledgeable about politics and current affairs. His ability to analyse and interpret national and international events always made him fascinating to talk to. His views and opinions reflected a compassionate person who frequently sided with the underprivileged and dispossessed. He also demonstrated this in his work as an interpreter where he frequently assisted native Spanish speakers to communicate with their legal representatives. Ronnie will be greatly missed by his family and wide circle of friends around the world. We take great comfort from the full life he led and the wealth of happy memories he left us with. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 7555 Ooltewah Georgetown Road, Ooltewah, TN 37363. The funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Louisa Parsons officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County, at www.cachc.org. Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.