Ron Rodecker

Ron Rodecker (March 4, 1930 – January 25, 2021) was an American educator, artist, and creator of Dragon Tales, a PBS and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation series about children who visit a world populated by friendly dragons.[1]

Ron Rodecker
Born(1930-03-04)March 4, 1930
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 25, 2021(2021-01-25) (aged 90)
Nevada City, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Educator
  • artist
  • television writer
Years active1955–2021
SpouseKatherine Rodecker
Children4

Dragon Tales

Rodecker came up with the idea of Dragon Tales when solicited by Columbia TriStar to find a vehicle for his whimsical characters they witnessed at the Sawdust Summer Arts and Crafts Show in Laguna Beach, California. He created a treatment for a prospective new series and both Columbia TriStar and Sesame Workshop went in as partners to launch the series that aired on PBS and CBC and garnered three Emmy nominations.[2]

Personal life

Rodecker was an educator for 23 years and served for two years as an elementary school principal on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Rodecker lived in Nevada City, California with his wife Katherine.[3][2]

Rodecker was a frequent artist and vendor at the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, known for his watercolor paintings of nature and dragons. It was at the Sawdust Festival where he was noticed by Columbia TriStar, leading to him creating Dragon Tales. One of his art inspirations was a book titled "Encyclopedia of Legendary Creatures", which inspired him to start making illustrations in watercolor rather than in black and white.[4]

Death

He died on January 25, 2021, at the age of 90 after a long battle with heart disease, his death was confirmed by his daughter on Facebook. He is survived by his wife Katherine, 4 daughters Cherie, Erin, Lauren and Gretchen, and 9 grandchildren Lindsay, Josh, Mariah, Andrew, Spencer, Tristin, Griffin, Charlotte and Tessa.[5][6]

References
  2. "Castle of dragons closes for good". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  3. "Dragons return to Laguna". Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. Koerner, Claudia (July 18, 2010). "'Dragon Tales' artist returns to Laguna Beach". Orange County Register. Orange County Register. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  5. Almond, Erin (January 25, 2021). "Post by Erin Rodecker Almond".
  6. "Obituary for Ron Rodecker".
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