TRIBUTES have been paid to an ‘inspirational’ Inverclyde man whose sudden death has left his loved ones and friends devastated.

Ronald Alexander Hammerman, who was known as Ronnie, died at his home in Port Glasgow on January 11 after suffering a massive heart attack.

The 70-year-old, who had an infectious zest for life, was a devoted family man much loved by his wife Marlyn, daughter Lorraine and his son-in-law Gregor.

He was also a successful businessman, qualified tradesman, lecturer and local fitness fanatic who loved nothing more than working out at the Waterfront Leisure Centre gym, where he enjoyed motivating everyone he met.

Marlyn, who was married to Ronnie for 47 years, says that the huge outpouring of grief from his many friends has been a great source of comfort and strength during this difficult time.

She said: “He was an inspiration.

“Everybody he touched was blessed to have known him.

“He had a very charismatic way.

“Ronnie made friends everywhere he went.

“Everyone that he touched, he left something with them.

“He lived every day to the full.”

Back in his younger years, Ronnie, of Farquhar Road, an eldest brother of six, started his career as an apprentice engineer in Lamonts in Port Glasgow.

When the ship repair yard closed, he went to work with Marlyn’s father David Milligan in J Coutts & Partners in Greenock.

Ronnie returned to college where he gained management skills and also became a qualified electrical engineer, taking over the business when Marlyn’s father passed away.

He worked tirelessly to make it a success and eventually sold the business, taking six months off to build a gym from scratch in his house.

Then he embarked on an exciting new challenge working as a business management and travel and tourism lecturer at James Watt College.

Over the course of his 20-year lecturing career, Ronnie revelled in making a positive impact on people’s lives.

In 1994, his life was turned upside down when he suffered a major heart attack.

His condition was so serious that he underwent a quadruple heart bypass but he fought his way back from the brink to become one of the fittest men in the area.

His remarkable recovery even featured in one of Britain’s top magazines, Candis, in 2007.

Speaking at the time, Ronnie said that exercise had kept him alive and he was determined to live each day like it was his last.

He said: “It made me realise I had to have a complete change of lifestyle.

“I lost three stone before I had the bypass.

“I began walking and swimming and after surgery took up weight training again.

“I kept pushing myself to achieve that little bit more.”

Ronnie soon became part of the furniture at the Waterfront Leisure Centre, and a well-known face to fellow customers and staff alike.

Having joined in 1998, he was still training there five days a week until he died.

Staff and members say he was the ‘life and soul’ of the centre and will never be forgotten.

Andrew Heatherington, 34, operations manager at the Waterfront, knew Ronnie for 17 years.

He said: “He was always such an inspiration to fellow members in the way he trained.

“He was very passionate about his diet and nutrition and was always giving advice and tips to other members.

“He was more than a member, he was a good friend.

“Ronnie was in with the bricks here.

“He was in the gym five days a week and I spoke to him pretty much most days.

“He was the life and soul of the gym.

“It was a big shock when we heard he had passed away — we couldn’t believe it.

“At his funeral, there were so many gym members there — it was really phenomenal.

“It shows how highly regarded he was.”

David McCorkindale, Inverclyde Leisure’s head of leisure and community services, also paid tribute to Ronnie.

He said: “Ronnie will be sadly missed.

“He was loved by so many of our customers and had made so many friends here.

“The staff here will miss his humour, banter and advice.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.” 

Fitness advisor Lesley McKay added: “He was just a lovely person who had a real zest for life.

“He was a real joy to be around.” 

When Ronnie wasn’t working out he loved nothing more than being at home with his family, cooking in the kitchen or keeping himself busy with jobs.

Marlyn said: “He loved cooking with a passion and also loved being in the garden, working on his car, going on holidays and was devoted to his family.

“He was a one-off.”