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By Brent Hoffmann, 2005

“My route to becoming a CAC docent was the confluence of many factors,” said Ron Becker.  “I had free time since retiring from a 47-year career as a health actuary. That career began with a B.S. in math from Loyola University in Chicago. Then, as a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, I worked for commercial insurers and public accounting firms, including Arthur Andersen, Price Waterhouse, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in Manchester, N.H.; Pittsburgh; and Chicago. And at age 57, I added to my actuarial experience by earning an MBA from the University of Chicago.”

Ron, a long-time resident of Oak Park, said that “through neighborhood walks and sponsored tours, I’ve been able to experience a great deal of outstanding architecture close-up.  Another factor that got me interested in becoming a docent was that, for several years, I volunteered for Open House Chicago and staffed locations in Oak Park and Austin. That experience strengthened my knowledge of architecture and impressed me with the organizational skills of the CAC.  So, when the CAC advertised for volunteers, I was quick to respond. Happily, I was accepted and became a member of the class of 2019. Go, Bovines.”

The Other Architects

He is certified for the Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age and Elevated Architecture: Downtown L Train tours.  Continued Ron, “I began researching and writing articles for The Bridge, including The Other (non-FLW) Architects of Oak Park; Chicago’s Pedestrian Bridges; Venetian Gothic Architecture in Chicago; Residential Designs of Louis Sullivan; and the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wis.  I also did a CAC zoom presentation on the art glass all-stars of Chicago.

“My architectural research skills were developed during the fantastic docent training under Adam Rubin. They took a quantum leap in 2019 when I took Julia Bachrach’s class about Chicago’s lesser-known architects.  For that class, I did a report on Henry Schlacks, a Chicago architect noted for his church designs.”

Docent at Brookfield

A long-time resident of Oak Park, Ron has been a docent at nearby Brookfield Zoo since 2014.  “I began working there as a teenager in food services,” he continued.  “Now, I really enjoy my assignment in animal information and interpretation.  I often work in the Living Coast exhibit where I talk about the Humboldt Penguins and answer questions.  I particularly like the exhibit because I’d seen these kinds of birds during a trip to Chile.

“The questions really keep me on my toes.  They require that I keep adding to my knowledge base. So, I took additional training to earn a Certified Interpretive Guide designation from the National Association for Interpretation.”

Ornithology

Another of Ron’s avocations is the study of birds. “Traveling through all 50 states and a number of foreign countries, I’ve amassed a world list of almost 1,200 species of birds that I have seen,” he explained. “I’ve made trips to more than 25 major islands such as the Robinson Crusoe Islands, near Chile; Iceland; Faroe Islands; Easter Island; and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The islands hold numbers of endemic species that cannot be found elsewhere.  During Thanksgiving of 2022, I visited the Galapagos Islands.”

Tsundoku

On his business card, Ron identifies himself an “opsimath” — a person who begins or continues to study or learn late in life.   “And to augment my studies, I began adding architecture and art books to my library that’s nearing 2,000 volumes,” Ron said.  “My children tell me that my many unread books are a manifestation of what the Japanese call ‘tsundoku.’ [Refers to phenomenon of acquiring readings materials but letting them pile up in one’s home without reading them, according to Wikipedia].

“Along with my research, I have created many snippets of family histories,” concludes Ron. “Being the oldest of 15 children, while my wife was the oldest of eight, the family is a very integral part of my life. Together we raised our six children. Our family has grown to 12 grandkids and now, two great-grandsons. So, there are always frequent family obligations, but all-in-all, it’s led to a very full life.”

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