About the Author
Ronald E. Roel is a veteran journalist and author who is passionate about promoting “successful aging,” providing useful information, pragmatic solutions, and compelling stories to help people explore rewarding experiences throughout life. Over the last decade, Ron has developed a strong interest in supporting family caregivers and the professional caregiving community, partly through his experience as one of four brothers who took care of their mother for almost 25 years.
Ron is president of Roel Resources, a firm that provides editorial services, specializing in aging and retirement planning issues. He hosts a national internet radio show, “45 Forward,” on the Voice America Radio Network. Each week, Ron explores a wide range of topics with guest experts, integrating work and careers, health, finance, relationships, , housing, and individual passions to prepare people for their journey through the second half of life.
He has been an active volunteer for AARP, serving as a member of AARP’s New York State Executive Council and participating in advocacy work for AARP Long Island as well as AARP’s Age-Friendly Communities initiative. Ron also volunteers for the Long Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association as a Community Educator and is an active member of the National Aging in Place Council Long Island Chapter and the Senior Umbrella Network. He previously served as an advisor to the Glen Cove Senior Center’s innovative Campaign Against Dementia initiative.
Over nearly 20 years, Ron was a special writer and editor at Long Island’s daily newspaper, Newsday, serving in several positions, including editor of the weekly Act 2 retirement planning section. The recipient of several journalism awards, He has been a participant and speaker at many local conferences, including forums for AARP and Vision Long Island. He is the co-author of three books and has written numerous articles and major business reports. He continues to be active in several organizations that promote older Americans as well as intergenerational programs and policies.
Raised on Long Island, Ron has been an instructor at several local universities, teaching “News Literacy” and “The History and Future of the American Press” at Stony Brook University’s Journalism School. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.