2026 Founder's Day Recipient

Ron Goldstein

The Bacon Academy Board of Trustees honored Bacon Academy graduate Ron Goldstein at a ceremony on May 20th 2026. Goldstein graduated as Salutatorian of the Class of 1985. Goldstein was born and raised in Colchester by parents who taught their sons that service to the community comes ahead of individual achievement. Ron was a latecomer to the Colchester public school system, having attended Hebrew Day School through eighth grade. Entering the Colchester school system in high school, he quickly adapting and became involved in class leadership, various clubs, and the school newspaper. "I felt from the start that the environment at Bacon was great — the teachers, the students. I felt right at home very quickly."

After Bacon, Goldstein received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and his law degree from Harvard. He began his legal career at Shipman & Goodman in Hartford, but when his father became ill, he returned to Colchester to help with the family business, Paradise Agency, LLC. "I longed to return to the town I grew up in. I always knew I wanted to be in the family business, and I knew I'd return." Ron now runs the business with his brother Bruce, and he has a solo legal practice.

Many people know Ron through town politics — he was on the Charter Adoption Committee, a member of the Board of Finance, and as a member, then chair of the Board of Education. Others recognize him through his charitable work as a prior Bacon Academy Trustee, his service on the Cragin Library Board, or his involvement with the Colchester Community Theater. Ron was also just inducted into the newly established Bacon Academy Hall of Fame.

"I am proud to be selected this year," Goldstein said. "To be recognized among folks like Dolores Sawchuk or Dave Shea is quite an honor. I was speechless! I'm not done, though," he continued. "I still want to be involved in the growth and heritage of our community — to continue to honor what's important and what links us to our past. Bacon is a great example of that. The tradition of Bacon Academy, the emphasis on the importance of education, and its graduates, including governors, senators, and community founders."

Ron Goldsteins' Founder's Day Speech