Ronald Grant Coleman

Ronald Grant Coleman, born on January 27, 1941, in Canastota, New York, passed away on March 6, 2026, at the age of 85. The youngest son of Richard and Frances Coleman, Ron grew up in a small upstate town yet developed a larger-than-life personality that could fill any room with laughter. A gifted coach, mentor, and business leader, he was known for his charisma, love of being the center of attention, and his ability to inspire those around him.

Ron earned his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he met his wife of more than 60 years, Andrea Ebertz. He went on to receive a master’s degree in history from Northeastern University in Boston. Soon after, he and Andrea moved to Miami, Florida, where he began his career as a high school history teacher and football coach. The couple welcomed identical twin sons, Matthew and Jason, during their time there. Ron later pursued a path in business, receiving management training at Procter & Gamble and building successful sales teams across Florida, Chicago, and the Midwest. He eventually settled in Atlanta, where he spent more than 30 years at Empire Distributors, leading high-performing teams and working with renowned brands such as Jagermeister, Maker’s Mark, and Samuel Adams. It was in Atlanta that he and Andrea welcomed their youngest son, Zachary.

A talented athlete, Ron loved coaching his sons’ baseball and basketball teams, often guiding them to championships, and he especially enjoyed teaching them the game of golf. A near-scratch golfer, he played many of the world’s most celebrated courses, including Augusta National Golf Club, Pebble Beach Golf Links, St. Andrews Links, Trump National Doral Miami, and Oakmont Country Club. He achieved several holes-in-one and took particular pride in his short game. Later in life, Ron and Andrea moved to a farm in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he tended to the land and cared for their horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats while continuing to enjoy golf. A lifelong music enthusiast, he built an impressive album collection spanning jazz, blues, country, and rock, featuring artists from Chet Baker and Nina Simone to Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson, and Kenny Rogers. He and Andrea were active members of the Four Freshmen Society and frequently traveled to conventions and concerts, including the Big E Festival in Cornelia, Georgia, and Elvis tribute events in Memphis.

After retiring, Ron and Andrea spent 17 happy years together at Lake Lanier, surrounded by family and friends. He was reunited in heaven with his parents, Richard and Frances Coleman; his brother, Richard Coleman, Jr.; his son, Zachary Coleman; his daughter-in-law, Angela Coleman; his nephew, Andrew Westee; and his brother-in-law, Donald Westee. He is survived by his devoted wife, Andrea Coleman; his sons, Matthew and Jason; his sister, Suzanne Herzog; his brother-in-law, William Herzog; his daughter-in-law, Jacqui Chew; his grandson, Harrison; his granddaughter, Katherine Rose; his sister-in-law, Suzanne Westee; his nieces and nephews Leigh Westee, Phillip Westee, and Patrick Coleman; his great-nephew Kyle Coleman; his great-niece Cameryn Coleman; and many Coleman relatives in Syracuse, New York.