Ron Mazur
The Rev. Dr. Ronald Michael Mazur, 78, died on January 17, 2013. He was 78 years old. Rev. Mazur was born in Boston, MA on May 14, 1934 to Bronislawa (Mikonowicz) and Michael Mazur. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University in 1955. He went on to attain a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 1959. In 1986 he earned a Doctor of Education from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality.
Ordained at the First Parish Church in Stow, MA in 1959, Rev. Mazur served as its minister from 1959-1964. From 1964-1965, he took a break from parish ministry and became the Executive Director of the Unitarian Christian Fellowship. From 1965-1970, he served as minister of The First Church of Salem, MA; and from 1968-1970 as chaplain of Salem State College. He served as the interim minister of the First Universalist Church of Essex, MA from 1971-1972, and then went on to serve as minister of the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian in Petersham, MA from 1973-1977; the Unitarian Universalist Society of the Daytona Beach Area in Ormond Beach, FL from 1990-1997; and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Augustine, FL from 1998-2002. From 2002-2013, he served as community minister to the Ormond Beach, FL area.
His years as a minister made Rev. Mazur keenly aware of ethical and social issues in human sexuality. He became a certified sex educator and lectured and hosted seminars and workshops at a variety of institutions. He worked in private practice, specializing in sex counseling with both individuals and couples. From 1972-1989, he was coordinator and principal trainer of the Peer Sexuality Education Program as well as adjunct faculty member, Division of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
During his career as a sexual health educator, Rev. Mazur wrote articles for publications ranging from Redbook to The American Journal of Public Health. With his wife, Sharon, he also self-published a monthly newsletter called Sexual Health and Relationships(SHAR). On the subject of human sexuality, Rev. Mazur wrote several books: Commonsense Sex: A Basis for Discussion and Reappraisal (Beacon Press, 1968); The New Intimacy: Open Ended Marriage and Alternative Lifestyles (Beacon Press, 1973); and About Your Sexuality: A Multimedia Sex Education Curriculum (Beacon Press, 1971). Rev. Mazur also served on the development team of the UUA’s About Your Sexuality curriculum for a number of years.
Rev. Mazur enjoyed boating, fishing, golf, tennis, music, reading and travel, and he developed several websites related to his fields of interest. During his retirement years, he wrote and published three more books: Free Jesus; Liberate America (iUniverse, 2003); Christianity As Fairy Tale (iUniverse, 2006); and Mystery of the Jesus Family (2009).
In a remembrance of her husband, Sharon Dorfman wrote:
“The Ron I cherished was brilliant, passionate, exuberant, authentic, creative, generous, courageous, persistent, unconventional, and non-conformist. He was a compassionate listener and true friend. Ron was a visionary and champion of social justice, speaking his truth eloquently and striving to shape, in some small way, a better world. He lived his faith.”
Rev. Mazur is survived by his wife, Sharon Dorfman; daughter, MJ Mazur; son Nathan Mazur; sister, Marianne Damigella; and his loyal rescue pup, Jazmyn.
At Rev. Mazur’s request, there was no funeral or memorial service.
Notes of condolence may be sent to Sharon Dorfman at 1436 Sunningdale Lane, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.