Ronald "Ron" Victor Wolff, 84, of Panama City Beach, Florida, passed away on Monday, December 4th, 2023. Ron was born in Charleston, South Carolina on July 26th, 1939 to Harriett and Victor Wolff.  The family later moved to Red Bank, New Jersey where Ron grew up.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, and he also graduated with honors from Georgia State University with a Masters in Business Administration.  Ron began his career with Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta, Georgia as an Industrial Engineer.  He progressed from engineering into human resources and public relations after he was promoted to an Employee Relations Supervisor.  In 1972, Ron embarked on an illustrious, thirty-nine-year career in hospital management, always managing to balance the hospitals' budgets no matter the odds.  From 1984 to 2011, Ron served as Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer for ten different, large hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.  With a collaborative spirit and enthusiastic hard work, Ron built a reputation for successfully turning around failing hospitals and fashioning them into institutions that their communities could be proud of.  Ron was most proud of his achievements as CEO of Bay Medical Center in Panama City because he believed in his doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff.  He demonstrated his loyalty by always choosing Bay Medical Center for his healthcare needs until the very end.

Throughout his career and into retirement, Ron never slowed down.  He was active in his community in Panama City through multiple professional and charitable organizations.  Ron served as a board member for the American Heart Association, Bay County Chamber of Commerce, Community Hospitals and Health Systems, Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, the Panama City Rotary Club, and VHA-Southeast.  Ron enjoyed instructing young people in their development in business endeavors with Junior Achievement; helping to build and grow his church; attending his weekly Rotary meetings; and serving on the scholarship committee, being on the court as a prince, and throwing beads in Mardi Gras parades for the Krewe of St. Andrews.  He also had a love of golf, boating, family reunions, and spending quality time entertaining his friends and family.  Ron was an avid reader and writer, who contributed editorials for multiple local newspapers and newsletters.  Ron was always the life of the party and to him, the glass was neither half full nor half empty.  His glass was always full if not overflowing.

Family and friends can attest to Ron's generosity and love and acceptance of everyone who came to know him.  His children were a focal point of his affection as they grew into adulthood.  He was endlessly supportive of their goals and ambitions, always affirming that he loved them no matter what.  He was also a proud older brother to his sister, always having her back.  Ron was a strong individual, who understood the value of community, friendship, and family.  He met life's challenges head-on, and he always had a knack for solving complex problems.  He loved the mysteries of life, and he loved sharing his life and wisdom with those willing to listen.

Ron is survived by his longtime companion, life partner, and better half, Cathy Friedman, who supported him to the end; his three children, Kristi Wolff, Cory (Lisa) Wolff, and Alexandra Wolff; his sister, Barbara (Sam) Guy; his nieces, Lisa Gallagher and Rachel (Omar) Jimenez; and his great-nephew, Thomas Jimenez, all of whom loved him dearly.

Please join us in celebrating Ron's life at 11am on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1001 West 11th Street in Panama City, Florida.  Interment will be in the Jordan family cemetery in Cottageville, South Carolina on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial donation to one of Ron's favorite charities: the Wounded Warrior Project, Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City, Florida, the Krewe of St. Andrews, or the American Heart Association.