ARGYLE – Ronald Ellsworth Hintz, 87, of Argyle, passed away Thursday morning, December 14, 2023, at Washington Center in Argyle.
Born on September 29, 1936, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, He was the son of the late Ellsworth and Alice Hintz. In the midst of World War II, Ronald and his family moved to Alameda, CA so his father could work in the shipyards. He received a wonderful education from the Oakland High School and soon met his first wife, Shielah.
Ronald went to work for the Atomic Energy Commission at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, where he did pioneering work on the development of Superconducting Magnets. This work led to starting a company, Super Magnetics, who built Superconducting Magnets for the investigation of anti-matter cosmic rays at very high-altitude helium ballons in places like Texas, North Canada, and Argentina. From there, he landed in Albany, NY just in time to develop superconducting magnets for high field whole body magnetic resonance research. Ronald had numerous patens on how to construct these magnets for now Philips. He has been all over the world installing and servicing these MRI Machines. More recently, Ronald worked for Dr. Mike Hennessey on building a high field superconducting magnet energy storage device in Malta, NY.
His life in New York started with the new year, 1980, when he brought a Maine Coon Kitten, Missy Mouse, with him from California. He was soon married to his second wife, Nellie and they raised and showed many Maine Coon Cats in the years that followed.
Ronald was an avid fisherman and he loved calling Bingo games at Washington Center, where he was president of the Resident Council and kept busy building picnic tables.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie Hintz of Ballston Spa; his daughters, Elizabeth and Sheilah (David Clark) as well as Kateria Hintz- Ellis (Robert); His sisters, Diana and Marilyn of California; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 22, 2023, at the Round Lake United Methodist Church in Round Lake.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff and doctors at the Washington Center for the exceptional care given to Ronald.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Open Door Mission, 226 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801.