Passing of Professor Emeritus Ronald Macaulay

October 14, 2025

Dear Pitzer Community,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news that Pitzer College Professor Emeritus of Linguistics Ronald Macaulay passed away peacefully on Friday, September 26, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. He was 97 years old.

Ronald’s path to Pitzer was as remarkable as his career here. Although not among the founding faculty, he joined the College in its early days and became an essential part of its intellectual fabric. Arriving at Pitzer in 1965, Ronald built and led Pitzer’s linguistics program with distinction, serving also as Dean of Faculty for a time. He was a pioneering scholar in sociolinguistics, respected internationally for his research on language and class in Scotland, and admired for his clarity and insight as both writer and teacher. A colleague once described him as “an absolute pioneer in the field of language studies” whose work “remains far ahead of its time.”

In 1999, Pitzer hosted a symposium, Sociolinguistic Methods: Conference in Honor of Ronald Macaulay, to celebrate his impact on the field, at Pitzer, and the broader community. Even after his 2001 retirement , Ronald remained a beloved figure at Pitzer and across Claremont and the Colleges. Reflecting on his time here, he once wrote, “[h]aving grown up in a society in which, to put it mildly, intellectual conversation was rare, to say the least, living in Claremont has been a paradise on earth.”

Ronald was known not only for his intellect but also for his warmth, humility, and deep kindness. As his daughter Anna shared, “We are all grateful to Pitzer for being such a unique and perfect place for Ronald to land—and forever thankful that Wales was cold and dark.” Isabelle and I have fond memories of meeting and welcoming Ron to our home at past Emeriti Faculty gatherings, and we will remember his graciousness and keen sense of humor.

Please join me in offering condolences to the Macaulay family. The family is planning a celebration of his life over the upcoming winter break. Those interested in attending may contact his daughter Anna at annamacaulaysmith@gmail.com for details.

In Deepest Sympathy,

Strom C. Thacker
President