Ron Schmoyer: One lucky guy
Ron Schmoyer is one lucky guy. Once a DuPont chemist, he spends his time living life fully. “Every day is a gift,” he said.
He is a retiree by title only and has a hobby that is turning into more than he ever expected. A painter and a potter, his cards read Pottery & Paint. He is a self-taught artist and uses his art as a gateway to open a conversation to talk about his life.
With a broad smile, Schmoyer introduces himself. “I am a potter, fisherman and a cancer survivor,” he says.
Three years ago he was visiting his doctor, who was concerned that medication was not controlling his acid reflux. “The moment she said ‘Let’s take a look in there’ saved my life,” Schmoyer recalled. After a few tests the doctor diagnosed him with Barrett's esophagus. He had no specific symptoms except chronic acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
“Now I am a one man crusade to spread awareness,” he said.
He and his wife, Linda, live near Harbeson. Fishing is Schmoyer’s No.1 obsession and a central reason for the couple's relocation to the Cape Region.
“You can find me on the Thelma Dale fishing, two or three days a week,” he said. Two days a week he goes to the Rehoboth Art League to make his one-of-a-kind clay creations. Although he tried using the wheel, he prefers doing hand-built pottery, which is more casual and whimsical.
Schmoyer gets his artistic ability naturally, “My father was a skilled painter, but he used oils,” he said. Schmoyer prefers using acrylics and watercolors when he is painting.
Saturday is his day to spend in the garden or puttering around the house, but playing with mud is never far away. “And on Sunday, I rest,” he laughed.
Creating art with clay captured Schmoyer’s attention a few months ago when he was visiting Florida. “I wanted a certain mug, and I went to a store that always had the kind I liked. But they didn’t have any, and they were not getting any more.” As luck would have it the store manager mentioned an art studio where they made mugs, and suggested he could look for one there.
Schmoyer didn’t waste any time. He went directly to the art class, but instead of buying a mug, he signed up for the class, and he has been experimenting every chance he gets ever since. He joined the Rehoboth Art League where he is a regular in the pottery studio twice a week when he is resting up from fishing.
He doesn’t take one minute for granted and uses every second to be happy and share his art and his story. He never knew anything about Barrett's esophogus before his diagnosis. He wants anyone who is having heartburn or reflux to consider having an endoscope.
With a big smile and a joyful laugh, he says "It's a big deal!" and he's here now to share his story.
His creations include whimsical free-form birdhouses, fish sculptures, platters, bowls and mugs. Every piece of pottery is a little bit different. Each mug or plate is unique, either in color, adornment, size or shape. He also takes requests. He is happy to create a special piece, and he can be contacted by email at rwschmoyer@aol.com.
