FALCONER – For two decades Ron Rothleder has led a group of employees in the tool and die industry at Stuart Tool & Die in Falconer.

Over his 20 years he has built molds and worked on dies, as well as designing and building fixturing and jigs for a wide range of customers. He has worked on all of the lathes and has “been an irreplaceable employee.”

Rothleder worked his way up from manual lathe to toolmaker and then shop supervisor in 2006. Rothleder, along with Stuart Tool & Die’s other shop supervisor, P.J. Degnan, purchased the shop from its founder in the fall of 2012.

Ron has lived in Gerry for 24 years with his wife Joyce and two daughters. He has been played hockey for 25 years starting with roller hockey at the Jamestown Armory and now plays at the Lakewood YMCA for the Golden Nuggets. He also plays on the ice in the Jamestown Adult League for Jamestown Skate Products. He has been a youth hockey coach for 10 years for Keep It In Jamestown and the Southern Tier Storm Girls travel hockey team. He also has coached girls softball in Gerry for many years.

Rothleder has raced ATVs and motorcycles and is a classic car enthusiast. He enjoys hunting, golfing, camping, snowmobiling and has used his artistic talents painting personalized helmets.