Ronald Kidd passed away peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee early morning on June 17 from glioblastoma. Fortunately for those who loved him, he survived with a high quality of life for almost two years before succumbing to this disease.
He is survived by his spouse of 48 years, Yvonne Martin-Kidd, and his daughter, Maggie Kidd of Chicago. He leaves behind a sister, Carol Loscutoff of Davis, California (Bill) and a brother, Russell Kidd, of Los Angeles. He also laid claim to a fun-to-travel with sister-in-law, Maria Trampe of Denver. He loved his five nieces and nephews and their assorted children as well as good friends – new and old – across the U.S. and points beyond.
First and foremost, Ron was a writer. He was an award-winning author of plays, librettos, and 14 novels for young readers, including the highly acclaimed “Lord of the Mountain” and “Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial.” His novels of adventure, comedy, mystery, and American history received the Children’s Choice Award, an Edgar Award nomination, and honors from the American Library Association, the International Reading Association, the Library of Congress, and the New York Public Library. He was a two-time O’Neill playwright, spending time in Waterford, Connecticut at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center chowing down on freshly caught lobster and working with directors, dramaturgs and actors to fine tune his plays “Tough Call” and “Christ of the Coopermans.”
In addition to writing, Ron edited and produced a boatload of books and audio and video programs. He started out in educational publishing in Los Angeles, joined Walt Disney Records as director of product development, and later served as senior editor at the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville. Along the way he earned a Grammy nomination for best children’s recording and five gold records.
Ron loved Mahler and Bruckner and anything else with a good trumpet solo or fanfare. Bluegrass came in a close second. He loved baseball – particularly the Dodgers and the VandyBoys; a good laugh with his daughter while dreaming up dad jokes and quirky sayings; and the biscuits with peach preserves at the Loveless Café. As an editor, he was a staunch supporter of the Oxford comma.
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