National Technical Institute for the Deaf

Renaissance man. Noun: A person with many talents or interests, especially in the humanities.

The term above might well define RIT/NTID alumnus Ronald Trumble, SVP '70, '77, '79.

Born in Asheville, N.C., Trumble's family moved to Jacksonville Beach, Fla., when he was 2 1/2—around the time that his grandmother discovered he was deaf.

"I was raised orally and learned some ASL when I attended the Deaf Olympics in swimming in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1969," he says. "There, I met a teammate who attended RIT/NTID."

Learning RIT/NTID had an Architectural Technology program, he applied.

"I had been interested in architecture since I was young, and taught myself drafting in high school," he says.

Trumble discovered the Fine Arts Woodworking and Furniture Design program while exploring the RIT campus during the Summer Vestibule Program.

"I saw a student show in Bevier Gallery, and was thrilled that there was a furniture program at RIT," he says. "I enjoyed woodworking with my father, and I liked to design and build furniture."

After completing the Architectural Technology program, he attended RIT's School for American Crafts in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and focused on woodworking and furniture design.

Another area of interest for Trumble was the NTID Performing Arts program. It appears to be in his genes—his mother majored in theater, and daughter Maddie is touring with the national company of Mary Poppins in the title role.

"I was shy in high school," he says. "But I came to life in the theater program."

He also appeared in the New York City production of Children of a Lesser God.

Today, Trumble is part of an artists' cooperative in Berkley Calif., where he lives with his wife and children. This renaissance man's advice to students: "Follow your heart. Your destiny will come from what interests you. Discover all that RIT/NTID has to offer and GO FOR IT!"

This story appeared in the Fall/Winter 2012 issue of FOCUS Magazine.