Ronald Henry Tougas

Ronald Henry Tougas of Voluntown, CT, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.  His indomitable spirit and sense of humor were with him as he passed in the loving presence of his family.  Ronald (Ron) was born in Pawtucket, RI on July 7, 1935, son of the late Henry and Hazel (Fletcher) Tougas of Little Compton, RI.  He graduated from St. Raphael’s Academy in Pawtucket in 1953.   He later earned an associate degree in Drafting and worked for over 30 years designing fire protection systems for companies such as Grinnel, Kendland and General Dynamics, from where he retired.  He proudly served in the Army Reserves for 27 years, retiring as a Sgt. Major.    

Ronald married June (Prescott) Tougas on September 6, 1958.  Theirs was a forever love story after a blind date arranged by a friend who had told Ron that he could get him a date with any girl in the East High School yearbook.  Ronald picked June and that became a 63-year marriage.  In his early years, Ron especially loved hunting, being a member of his school’s rifle and track teams and spending time in Little Compton, RI.  In his older years, he enjoyed woodworking and tinkering in his workshop.  Another love was photography and he was often found with a camera in his hand.  He cherished spending time with family and friends and loved to document those moments in pictures.  He was a lifelong fan of the New York Giants and the Boston Red Sox.  Ron was a member of St. James Episcopal church in Poquetanuck.  Civically, he was a member of the Voluntown Historical Society and served as President of the Voluntown Seniors for 5 years.   Ron was instrumental in Voluntown’s recent acquisition of a Senior Bus and also served as a member of the recently created Voluntown Elderly Commission.   He was a true patriot, with a love for his country and community, holding an unwavering love and faith in God. 

He is survived by his wife June Tougas of Voluntown and his beloved daughters and sons-in-law, Donna (Tougas) and Neil Vaughan of Deerfield, NH; Karen (Tougas) and Dwayne Britt of Voluntown, and his cherished son, Craig Tougas of Voluntown.  Also surviving him are his grandson Ryan Bohara and wife Deanna of Ft. Meyers, FL and granddaughter Andrea (Bohara) Adeagbo and husband Tadese of Loxahatchee, FL; grandchildren Emily, Cory and Nicholas Britt of Voluntown; Hannah and Jonah Tougas of TX.  He had 3 great-grandchildren: Lily and Dylan Bohara and Maya Adeagbo, also of FL.  Additionally, Ron is survived by his loving sibling, David Tougas of Little Compton, RI.  

A service and military honors will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 12, 2022, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Voluntown, CT.   A Celebration of Life Reception to immediately follow will be held at the Voluntown Volunteer Firehouse.  The Gagne Piechowski Funeral Home 490 Voluntown Road Jewett City, CT has been entrusted with private burial arrangements at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, RI.  For online condolences please go to www.gagnefuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Southeastern CT at https://hartfordhealthcare.org/donate.

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