“His dedication was amazing, as was his willingness to be there for others.” — Penelope Griffith, CSC Executive Director
IN MEMORIAM: Remembering Ronald Wingard
The year 2022 was a one of growth and achievement for Collaborative Solutions for Communities (CSC), but it was also a year of loss, as the entire CSC community mourned the passing of Ronald Wingard, a beloved former employee. He was 57 years old. Wingard, who committed murder when he was just 17 and spent the next 25 years in prison, entered the professional world later in life. Released from prison in his early 40s, he found his way to CSC, where Executive Director Penelope (“Ms. Penny”) Griffith saw his potential and offered him a job. “Ronald joined our Clean Team, helping to keep the streets clean and maintain our building and vehicles, and he was truly amazing,” Griffith said. “He had grown up around violence and had responded in a violent way at a particular moment in time. But despite his past, he had the gentlest soul, and all of us at CSC came to know him as the funniest, most caring, most selfless and humble guy. He was the best employee anyone could ever want. Wingard’s sister, Sharon Watkins, said Griffith’s sentiment was shared by all who knew him. “As a person, he was truly wonderful–just an outgoing, outstanding person,” she said. “If you knew him, you loved him.” Watkins said her brother was eternally grateful to CSC for taking him in.
“CSC made him feel like he was a part of something, and the fact that Ms. Penny trusted him made him feel recognized as a person and like he had a second chance,” she said. “He was so proud of the work he did there, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for that community.” During his time at CSC, Wingard excelled, not only endearing himself to colleagues, but also distinguishing himself for his commitment to the organization. “He started out cleaning streets, but gradually took on more responsibility, eventually overseeing the mainte- nance of our building and vehicles,” Griffith said. “His dedication was amazing, as was his willingness to be there for others. If his coworkers made a mistake, Ronald would take the blame for them; he was a stand-up person.” Wingard grew up in a large family who was well known in the community. He has three daughters who he talked often of and tried to make up for the years he was not there to raise them. For the last several years of his life, Wingard was unable to work due to a serious lung condition, but it was only with great reluctance that he agreed to retire. “He said, ‘Nothing’s going to stop me from coming in, Ms. Penny!’” Griffith recalled. “We’re all going to miss him so much.”
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