The Design Leadership Award celebrates a member of our community who embodies the values of community, collaboration, and commitment to the design industry—someone who believes in doing good through design. This year, we are proud to present the award posthumously to Ron Tumpowsky, our friend and longtime partnerships consultant, who passed away this summer.
Ron was a beloved member of both our DLN community and the design industry at large. Over the course of nearly 20 years working with the DLN, he was instrumental in growing our partnerships program. His legacy at the DLN—and in the larger design community—is one of kindness, integrity, and enthusiastic support for the design industry and its people.
As our community continues to mourn this tragic loss, we take comfort in the outpouring of love and fond memories for Ron from DLN Members, Partners, and friends. These words are a testament to Ron’s kindness, leadership, and impact on so many.
“Ron’s contributions to the DLN community cannot be overstated. Over the course of 12 years, his tireless development of our Partner program built one of the bedrock aspects of our organization and an essential part of our unique place in the design industry. From the outset, Ron had a clear vision of how to do something I had never seen done before and he made it happen. And beyond his accomplishments, I will miss his energy, loyalty, and friendship. His passing is very unexpected and a reminder to all of us to appreciate all that we have and be grateful for our families, friends, and colleagues. Please join me in honoring Ron and his work on behalf of all of us who are a part of DLN.” –Peter Sallick
“As a Canadian in New York, Ron introduced me and supported me and promoted me well beyond what could be expected of a new friend, and came to become a dear friend. In return, I gave him parenting advice. I would say it was a lopsided exchange, except to know Ron was to know how he absolutely adored his children, and so I can only hope I gave back to him a small measure of his guidance to me.” –Liz Margles
“Ron was so incredibly kind and went out of his way to make each member feel seen and important.” –Denise McGaha
“Ron wasn’t just a great asset to the DLN, he was a great person and, I’d like to believe, friend.” –David Klaristenfeld
“Ron was such a lovely guy and it was clear he cared deeply about the design community and the DLN. He was always welcoming, positive and put others at ease, including me when I was newer to the industry.” –Mona Ross Berman
“Spending time with Ron at any DLN gathering was always a highlight. His energy and genuine spirit would always lead the conversation.” –Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos
“Ron was a great guy with such a genuine and kind spirit. He was the first person to welcome me to the DLN, and I’ll be forever grateful to him. My favorite memory with Ron was enjoying a Rangers game at MSG in the most iconic seats in the house. His warmth and camaraderie will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.” –Lauren Corbin
“Ron was one of the finest people I’ve gotten to work with, I am going to miss him very much. I have learned so much from the thoughtful, strategic, and person-first ways that he brought us all together, and was so looking forward to learning more just from getting to spend time together.” –Noz Nozawa
“Ron was a truly generous spirit who made every relationship, work or otherwise, a personal one. He became a trusted friend to me and I believe anyone who had the privilege of working with him. I will miss his regular outreaches to get lunch and swap industry updates, and I will miss seeing him observing the crowd from the back of the room at DLN events. My heart goes out to Jennifer and the boys, and the rest of Ron’s family. Losing Ron is a deep loss for the design community.” –Julia Noran Johnston
“Ron Tumpowsky was a true professional yet always approached his partnership conversations with a human touch of warmth and humor. Ron embodied the spirit of the DLN community and my memories of him will never fade. He is missed and will forever be with us ins spirit as we carry on his mission for supporting and uniting our industry. May his memory be a blessing.” –Christina Juarez
“I was very fortunate to know and interact with Ron over the past 12 years. He was relentless in his passion and commitment for DLN and making sure everyone was always well taken care of. My favorite memory will be seeing his beaming smile when he became a father for the first time. He was so proud of his beautiful family and he made sure that everyone at DLN felt like part of his family. He will be dearly missed.” –Danya Lane
“Ron had that special touch of always making you feel so warmly welcomed and appreciated even in a crowded hall! I am forever grateful that our paths crossed.” –Jean Larette
“From the day we met him, it was clear to us that Ron would be a mentor for us in navigating the ins and outs of DLN. His affability and readiness to offer a helping hand will be missed. He shared photos of his sons with us and our hearts go out to his wife at this difficult time”–Rob Suri and Alex Kuruvilla
” Ron was simply one of the best, I loved working with him across our partnerships and will miss our wonderful Zoom calls immensely. He had the most wonderful manner, such a gentleman, the ultimate professional with a lovely sense of humor. ” –Emma Redmayne
“I’ll never forget the incredible conversation we had sitting at Casa Luis Barragan watching the water flow in the horse stables, taking it all in, in this magnificent piece of architecture, sharing a moment together. He made me feel so appreciated, and felt proud of me for receiving an award, hearing my story in the acceptance speech at the NYSID Gala. I was so taken back he shared his thoughts and offered his support of any future endeavors. I felt so seen and so heard.” –Peti Lau
“Ron was my first personal touchpoint and impression of DLN and he immediately won me over with his attentiveness, smarts, and kindness. As I got to know him at a deeper level throughout the years, he became a trusted advisor, friend, and someone I looked forward to celebrating the quotidien moments of life with. Having him share his pictures and updates of his boys was always a highlight as he exuded pure joy and love when speaking of his family. I owe it to Ron to introducing me to some of my best friends at the DLN and for always making me feel at home in the organization. I will dearly miss him.” –Cecilia Ramos
“We shared a bond, both personally and professionally. Coming from similar backgrounds, in terms of age and where we grew up, we found many parallels in our lives.
Ron was a strong bridge between Holland & Sherry and the DLN. But it was the personal connection that truly stood out. We bonded over our families and our shared interests. Ron was passionate about soccer, while my interest was in baseball. I deeply respected his dedication, especially to children’s sports.
Ron was a remarkable person, and I will miss him dearly. I know I am not alone in this; he touched many lives and left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.” –Brian Dicker
Please join us in honoring Ron and his lasting impact on our community.
Watch the full video here.