With a heavy heart we share some very sad news. Ron Lally, Co-Director of WestEd’s Center for Child and Family Studies and creator of the For Our Babies campaign, passed away January 22, 2020. His passing was unexpected and peaceful. The enormity of this devastating loss is overwhelming. We have lost an extraordinary person, a gentle and creative spirit, and a dear friend, while the field of early childhood development has lost a pioneering champion for our youngest children.
Ron worked tirelessly for decades in support of young children, their families and caregivers. His vision of high-quality infant/toddler care will continue to inspire early childhood educators and leaders around the world, and their continued efforts to support and nurture babies are a central part of his legacy. Ron’s work has touched countless infants, toddlers, families, and the teachers and caregivers who care for them, and we honor him with our own continued efforts to improve the lives of young children.
As many of you know, Ron and his team were in the midst of several projects related to For Our Babies, including a website refresh with new resources to help people to promote healthy development of children birth to three. We plan to continue this work and will let you know as soon as new resources are available.
All of us hold Ron in our hearts.
With sadness,
Peter Mangione and Julie Weatherston
His loss is immeasurable.
I am still grieving the loss of J. Ronald Lally. I saw J. Ronald at NAEYC for the last time November 20, 2019.
He was a modern philosophical combination of Piaget and Erikson for the U.S.
His passion, love, and intellectual devotion to Infancy, Toddlerhood, AND Parenting was evident beginning at The University of Florida with Dr. Ira J. Gordon and the NIH Parent Education Program. He will never be replaced in our hearts.
Dr. Gail S. Scott
9.15.2022