On Thursday, September 29, 2022, Ronald D. Harper peacefully passed away at his home and was finally reunited with his beloved wife of 55 years, Marial, who passed in 2016. His daughter Aurienne Dembitzki, her husband Robert, his son Treg Monty, and his wife Nina were at his bedside. Ronald was ninety-three.
Ron served in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1952-1954. Upon graduation from Boston University School of Law, he was a successful private criminal lawyer in New Bedford until being appointed Judge in the Juvenile Court Department, Bristol County Division in November 1974. He was then soon appointed First Justice where he remained until his retirement from the bench in 1999.
Ron loved music and women’s college basketball, especially UConn. Most important to him however were his six grandchildren, Brienne Roy (Dan), Kamarin Monty, Treg Dembitzki (Laura), Marley Dembitzki, Morgan Williams (Stephen), Olivia Strull (Brian) and his identical twin great-grand daughters, Kobe and Harper Roy.
His visitation will be held on Friday October 7th from 4-6 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford, with a service of remembrance to follow at 6 PM. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 8th at 10am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 795 Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth. A private family burial will take place at South Dartmouth Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ron and Marial’s two favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and The Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.