"I spent seven of the sixteen years I worked for Blockbuster in Ft. Lauderdale. Of many great memories I have of those years, Captain Ron may be the greatest. He was a major force relocating me there from Dallas. Ron's nickname for me was "Gordo", and he was the only person I didn't mind calling me that. He had a way of making it sound like a title of respect. Ron always shot straight when you asked his advice, and didn't sugar-coat anything. He recognized a fellow movie maniac in me, we had many long talks about film history. After I moved back to Texas with BB, and four years later was on my own, I would talk to Ron when I came back for the Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival. At the 2002 festival he pointed out to the crowd that I was one of the company's very first employees, which I will always appreciate. He was a gentleman and mentor to me as he was to many. I will miss him."
In loving memory of
James "Ron" Castell
January 28, 1938 - October 31, 2013
James Ronald "Ron" Castell, 75, who for fifty years was an innovative and creative marketing force in banking, radio, commercial television, cable television, motion pictures and home video passed away October 31, 2013 from a rare neurodegenerative disease. Ron moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1989 to join Blockbuster Video as Senior Vice President for Programming. He was Blockbuster's Hollywood connection, responsible for film buying and studio relations. Ron created Blockbuster's star-studded FAME events and masterminded its legendary annual meetings. After Blockbuster purchased Aaron Spelling Productions, Ron served in the Office of the President running Spelling Entertainment. Ron's move to Blockbuster marked the beginning of a 23-year working relationship with Wayne Huizenga. After the sale of Blockbuster, Ron served as senior vice president of Huizenga Holdings. Ron was chairman of the Broward County Library Foundation, chairman of the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival and was appointed by Jeb Bush to chair the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council. He orchestrated, emceed and chaired innumerable charitable and community events. Ron loved the silver screen and the written word. He was up before five every morning to watch a movie while simultaneously reading four newspapers. The "Mogul" saw virtually every movie ever made and could discuss each and every one with an encyclopedic knowledge. His love of movies was matched by his passion for books and magazines and he read thousands of them.
Born January 28, 1938, Ron grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving in Seoul, Korea where he hosted the Armed Service's morning radio wake-up program. He began his career in Columbus, Ohio working for Lazarus Department Store, WBNS, and City National Bank, later Banc One. As City National's marketing vice president, Ron spent five years promoting the then-novel concept of a universal bankcard and ATM machines. Ron was Executive Assistant to Ohio Governor John Gilligan and became a fixture in the Columbus community chairing the Ohio State Fair for five years and the State Student Loan Commission. He was at the forefront of interactive media serving as executive vice president of marketing for QUBE, Warner Cable's interactive cable service. Ron led Warner Cable's successful effort to win the Pittsburgh cable franchise. He served as a senior marketing executive for several cable television programming services. Ron authored the book, "The Blockbuster Video Guide to the Movies and Videos," hosted the "Reel Ron" Radio Show and co-founded a venture to produce motion pictures for underserved markets. Ron was a member of First Presbyterian Church, The Lauderdale Yacht Club and Grande Oaks Golf Club. Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Barbara Ruger Castell; two daughters, Kelly (Jason) Blanton and Julie Castell, both of Columbus, Ohio; a step-son Jared (Erin) Ruger of San Francisco and three grandchildren, Kate and Will Gingery and Carson Ruger. Ron will be remembered for his clever and creative mind, enthusiastic embrace of life, suspenders and bow ties, famous chili, beloved martinis, and love of good conversation. As Ron said, "What a ride. I am so grateful." A celebration of life service will be held Tuesday, November 5 at 4:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ron's honor to the Community Foundation of Broward, 910 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale FL 33301. Condolences may be shared at www.fredhunters.com
Tributes
"We will miss your larger than life personality. We will miss your hearty laugh, your nicknames for everyone you meet, and your undeniable business sense. Ron, you were a force of nature. It was an honor to have worked with you for so many years. I'm sure they have the BEST movies and books where you are now. You blessed us with your presence in our lives. Rest in Peace."
" I'm so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest sympathy. May you find comfort from your memories, as well as the comfort found in God's word the bible. Romans 5:12 says, "That is why, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned." How loving of God to promise what is found at Revelation 21:4 which says, "And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." "
"to me his nickname was 'REEL' RON because he was a 'REEL' movie fan ... but he was a 'REAL MAN' a 'REAL FRIEND' and a 'REAL GUY' a REAL' memory forever"
"Ron was certainly one of my most important and earliest mentors. I learned so much from him, and always thoroughly enjoyed his company. He was the man who gave me the nickname of "Szwakman", which I use to this day. Three memories of Ron will stick with me forever. After Wayne Huizenga acquired Video Library in 1988, giving Blockbuster about 200 stores at the time, and then hired Ron away from Erol's about a year later (one of his great coups), Ron came to our offices in San Diego and in that totally unique and classic voice said to me, "Szwakman, if you want to go to the party, it's in Ft. Lauderdale". I was the only person to leave VL, and traveled cross country with my pregnant wife and two small girls, never looking back. I rode on that Big Blue train for the next six years, and was privileged to have worked under Ron's guidance and to have reported to him. Another is when Ron took "his boys" (me, John Ellis, Bill Nuhn, and Vans Stevenson) to a theatre in Ft L. on a Saturday afternoon to see what still remains one of my favorite films of all time, "Do The Right Thing", which just knocked the socks off of each of us and led to one of those many classic and fulfilling discussions about movies with Ron. The final one was when the most senior execs of all the major studios came into Lauderdale at Wayne's weekend invitation to actually work in the Blockbuster stores to experience video retail firsthand, and to also be his guests at the Dolphins - Raiders game at Joe Robbie Stadium on Monday night. As they all settled into the bus that would be police-escorted taking them to the game, Ron was the last one to board and asked for their attention. He then announced that Wayne had just acquired Major Video, BB's largest competitor at the time, and the shock was so great and unexpected, it grew so quiet that you could hear the proverbial pin drop. Ron paused and waited more than five seconds until one person clapped, then another, until the whole bus erupted into applause and frivolity. No one could have delivered that news to the industry icons better than Ron. He was so deeply respected and loved by every one of them. He defined being a "larger than life" personality, and will definitely be missed and always thought of so fondly by anyone who had the honor of knowing him. "
"The entertainment world has lost it's greatest fan - and for those of us privileged to know Ron Castell; we have lost a great friend and mentor. I met Ron when Blockbuster bought Spelling. He called me at my office in New York and through the course of meetings and other calls, "Bob" eventually became "Siggy" in that famously throaty voice of his. He challenged me every day to be the best I could be, not only as a person, but as an executive. Nothing was insurmountable. A substantial amount of my business practices today were enhanced by his teachings - for this, I will be ever thankful he was in my life. Rest easy Ron. And let's see who knows more in heaven about movies than you. "
"What can I say about "Captain Ron" that hasn't been uttered by everyone who met him? Great guy, infectious personality and laugh, always made everyone feel important, amazingly humble for a guy so connected and the list goes on and on. Every time I had the chance to meet and talk with him, it was a memory in itself. He was so connected and high up the corporate ladder when I started out at Blockbuster as a naïve 28-year old, yet he always made me feel like I actually had something important to contribute. He had a knack for making the most mundane tasks seem like the most exciting thing going on - just ask anyone who stuffed all the goody bags for the FAME events! It was utterly impossible to walk out of a meeting with Ron without having a big smile, hearty hello and nickname for everyone you bumped into. I still remember his advice to those who wanted to get into the movie biz - "If you want to be a writer, write. If you want to be an actor, act. Do what you love to do." I feel so blessed to have known this guy, he was absolutely one of the most important and influential people I have ever known. After Blockbuster, he still always had time to meet, helping me more than he probably ever knew in my post-Blockbuster business ventures, but mostly these 7 o'clock breakfasts were just a time to shoot the breeze, i.e., discuss the latest movies, something I'll cherish forever. Ron, you will be sorely missed but the memories will never fade."
"One of the greatest guys of my lifetime and, slam-dunk, the sharpest person I ever met in my hometown Columbus. He also gave a presentation once that my father -- General Sales Mgr. of Columbus Cadillac and a real dynamo himself -- said was the best he'd ever heard. There has never been anyone in my life that I enjoyed talking to more. Mike Clark"