“In 1972, my brother introduced me to Ron. During our first meeting, I couldn’t figure out Ron’s angle because he didn’t have one!”

Ron and Bill clicked right away, and since that day, they remained close friends. They enjoyed dinners and outings, and never had a dull moment. One memory that stands out is the evening they went to dinner with Bill’s wife, Peggy, and Joe and Dotti Levanto, at Federal Hill in Providence. Ron, wearing a snazzy white linen suit, rolled up to the restaurant in his big Rolls Royce. He was unaware that a shaken up glass Coke bottle was setting on the running board, and when he opened the door, it fell, broke and sprayed all over him. Everyone on Federal Hill that night thought it was a gun shot, and ducked.

Sitting in the corner of the restaurant was Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, Jr. Ron was just dying to meet him. He wanted to invite him to Norwich. Ron was hesitant to interrupt him. Outside the Rolls, Ron stopped and said, “I’m going back in. I’m going to invite him to come to Norwich.”

Always winning, “Buddy’s coming to Norwich,” announced Ron.

“Ron Aliano is one of Norwich’s greatest treasures and I don’t know who can possibly take his place. He accomplished things people can only dream of. I know of no one who changed the face of Norwich more than Ron Aliano. He put his ambulance service on Mt. Pleasant where the old west side neighborhoods stood.”

Before 1972, Herman Leon and Joe Viadella owned and ran Norwich’s City Cab Company, which consisted of two cabs, and the City’s one ambulance. When a stretcher was needed during an emergency, the two cabs would respond. The cab drivers would help load the injured person onto the stretcher, put it into the ambulance and be on their way.

Ron recognized opportunity. The Rose City needed an ambulance fleet. He purchased the City Cab Company, and the Norwich Ambulance Company, and told Bill, “I am going to have the best ambulance service in the State.” From that, he created American Ambulance. Later on, Bishop Riley, Worcester, MA, friend of Ron and Bill, blessed the fleet of ambulances.

“We did wonderful things together. He raised $50,000 and brought fireworks back to Norwich. That was Ron’s show.”

“He worked to recover and restore the Abe Lincoln flag. It was a $40,000 purchase from e-bay.”

“If I know Ron, he would want to die on a Saturday so he could make the Sunday edition.”

“Ron was one of those rare guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer, and the City of Norwich and all of eastern Connecticut are better for it. Whether it was his ambulance corps or the marina project, Ron did everything first-class. He expected no more or less from his employees than he would demand of himself, which is why they’re all so good at what they do. Our region is a little less colorful and dynamic without Ron.”

“Thank you Ron for seeing it, going for it and delivering it to Norwich.”

“The community remembers Ron as being a talented businessman and civic leader. Few realize Ronald Aliano had a true passion for health education. Ron saw a void in educating the general public in lifesaving skills as well as training individuals to fill the increased demand for EMS professionals. In 1996, Ron’s passion and vision turned into action by establishing American Professional Educational Services. Under his guidance and drive, we have fulfilled is wishes to afford the opportunity for persons to Learn CPR and First Aid skills as well as gain occupational skills to become an E.M.T., C.N.A. or even a Paramedic. Ron will be sorely missed but his spirit of learningwill be ever present.”

“Norwich has lost one of its finest and fiercest advocates. Ron gave back to this community in so many ways – not just through his business efforts, but most importantly, through his volunteer service on so many boards and organizations. Ron liked to joke that he would always be known as an ‘outsider,’ because he wasn’t born in Norwich. But Ron’s passion and dedication showed that heart is what makes a place your hometown.”

“When I think of Ron, I think of someone who saw the great potential that was to be had in downtown Norwich, which he developed. He was a visionary person. He had the ability to always see through what appeared to be a rough surface and see a highly refined finished product that served the community in the best fashion. It is all a credit to who he was. He turned what was a coal yard into a first class marina in every way – from the buildings to the docks and the restaurant – a hard enough thing to do. He was a man with great persistence which was necessary to carry through his dreams – which he did.”

“Ron and I had a very special relationship. He was my older brother and I was his younger sister ever since I moved here. He was a giant of a visionary and he saw things in a way that not all the world could see, in way that not all the other visionaries could see either. I respect him for that. He worked hard on behalf of this region, especially Norwich. I’ll miss his impact a great deal. And I’ll miss him as my friend.”

“Ron and I served for four years together. He had a vision for Norwich that other people didn’t see – like no one else. He was a very special guy that put a lot into Norwich. He put his money where his mouth was. We were in opposite parties, him being a Republican and I’m a democrat, so there was a difference there. But the one thing we had in common was a great love for the city. Ron always put that first.”

“I’m sure plenty has been said on Ron’s accomplishments over the past 35 years here in Norwich. His vision and transformation of the Marina at American Wharf property alone is amazing. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with Ron and to be a part of the American Group. One of the benefits of working at a close knit, family run company was getting to know the Alianos on a personal level as well. In addition to being an astute businessman, Ron was a caring and passionate individual. He cared for his employees and among his many interests; we shared a love of American history. I am lucky to have learned quite a bit from Ron and he will be greatly missed.”

“He had a great passion for the city. He loved the City. He made his mark. He will certainly be missed by the community. It’s a great loss. It was very rewarding to work with him for the past two years. He energized you.”

“Ron Aliano was a proud, powerful and persistent man. He was a sharp business man with a generous heart! He loved the city of Norwich and as a visionary was always proposing new ideas and improvements to make it a better place to work and live.

I will never forget the conversation we had before he announced that I was to be President of American Ambulance. He took my hand and said, ‘Angela, I love my children Michael and Ronda but this company is my baby, please take good care of it.’ His love for the company was exemplified by his persistence and unwavering commitment to perfection whether it was the equipment, our employees or most importantly, our service to the patients.

His passing has created a significant void in our community and we will all miss him immensely. His contributions and our memories of him will live on forever!”

“Ron will be missed by the community. He was a great supporter of the Italian community, as well as, the community of Norwich. It is a total shock to us. Every year the Italian community chooses two people as Italians of the Year. Ron was selected to be Italian of the Year in 2005.”

“Ron was a special guy – a good guy. When I think about Ron Aliano, he was a visionary in his thinking in the City of Norwich that he loved so much. It goes beyond vision. He was a doer, a worker, an organizer, a collaborator, a cooperator and an advocate to make his vision a reality.”

“Ron was a giant in our Eastern Connecticut community. He was a self made man who accomplished great things, both professionally and personally. His influence to get things done will be sorely missed. He was a good friend and a great businessman.”

“Ron was a persistent champion of Norwich. He made sure that everything he did was first class, so that he and Norwich would be proud of whatever it was. He also was always supportive of community endeavors and would willingly give financially to help whatever needy cause came his way.”

“Ron was a pioneer for advancing pre-hospital care in Eastern Connecticut. At a time when paramedic care was met with resistance and skepticism, Ron was true to this cause, which has resulted in many lives being saved.”

“Mr. Aliano was a seriously committed citizen who cared dearly about making the community of Norwich a better place. He worked tirelessly to make this happen. I know he will be deeply missed by his friends and business associates.”

“When I was a Cadet at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in the early 1950”s, I remember traveling to Norwich and seeing Hollyhock Island. It was sure an eyesore then! Much later, in 1988 after I retired from the Coast Guard and moved back to East Lyme, I was interviewed and selected to become the Executive Director of the Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce. That was when I first met Ron Aliano. He was a member of our Board of Directors. That was also when I was very impressed when I learned that Ron had converted Hollyhock Island into a very, very fine Marina.

Over the next four years, I continued to learn more and more about the marvelous improvements and new businesses that Ron had initiated and made very successful. These, as well as, his outstanding contributions, helped immensely improve, not only Norwich, but also much of Eastern Connecticut. Ron was an amazing business leader. Besides his wonderful business contributions, he also was a wonderful friend whose company was always enjoyed at business meetings and social events.

We will all miss Ron Aliano very, very much, — and we will all continue to enjoy our own lives more because of this man’s wonderful contributions.”

“Ronald Aliano has supported our community for many years by encouraging his employees to be community minded at American Ambulance Service and participate in United Way Employee Giving Campaigns. His philanthropy and deep dedication for our community will live on through the lives that he and his employees have helped.”

“Ron’s passion and vision for the City of Norwich, particularly pertaining to the harbor and the waterfront, coupled with his extraordinary ability to get things done, has truly made Norwich a better place. His presence will be greatly missed.”

“Ron was a good man. That’s important to me. I was in business for a long time and when I say someone is a good man that is a big compliment – what I hope they say about me when I go. He did a lot for the City of Norwich. I didn’t always agree with him, but he did a lot for the City.”