Thomas B.K. Ringe Jr., 88, pilot and lawyer

Services are planned for Saturday, June 18, for Thomas B.K. Ringe Jr., 88, of Berwyn, a former Navy pilot, lawyer, and businessman.

He died Saturday, April 9, from complications of pneumonia at Paoli Hospital.

Mr. Ringe became an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Philadelphia after graduating in 1956 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Two years later, he broke away to form the Center City law firm of Ringe, Peet & Mason, and he continued to practice general corporate law until the mid-1970s, when he cofounded Meditel Inc., one of the first companies to attempt to use computers in medical diagnosis.

Mr. Ringe left Meditel before it was sold to another corporate entity. He continued to practice law part time from Berwyn until retiring in the early 2000s.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Ringe graduated from Episcopal Academy in 1946 and from Dartmouth College four years later. He was vice president of his college senior class and a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity.

During the Korean War, Mr. Ringe trained in Pensacola, Fla., as a Navy fighter pilot certified to land airplanes on aircraft carriers at all hours.

His unit, Navy Fighter Squadron VF-84, known as the Sidewinders, was deployed to carry out sorties against North Korea from the decks of the aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CV-36) in June and July 1953, according to a Navy history.

Mr. Ringe designed the unit's signature patch, which depicts a serpent and an upside-down top hat.

"He was tremendously proud of that," said son Thomas B.K. Ringe 3d.

Mr. Ringe married Cynthia Steward in 1956 and the two settled in Devon and then on a farm near Phoenixville to raise four children. Later, the couple moved to St. Davids and then Berwyn.

Mr. Ringe was a gifted athlete. At Dartmouth, he earned nine varsity letters in soccer, squash, and cross-country. He also was captain of the varsity squash team. Later, he won many squash championships at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

As a young man, he enjoyed hiking and was one of the youngest to supply the huts along the Appalachian Trail by carrying quantities of food and bulky stoves up the steep mountain paths on his back.

As he grew older and had a family, he managed the Tennis Farm Inc., a Berwyn nonprofit started by his wife in 1973 that teaches tennis to children and adults. He also coached the Radnor High School girls' tennis team to numerous championships, his son said.

He loved to attend high school sports events and to spend time with family watching the Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies.

His son said Mr. Ringe was "the consummate gentleman who was adored for his patience, kindness, and loyalty.

"He was selfless, accepted everyone as they were, and made an impact on so many with the twinkle of his eye and gorgeous smile."

Besides his son and his wife of 59 years, he is survived by daughters Kirven Talone, Katherine Welch, and Elizabeth Hunter; eight grandchildren; and a brother.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 400 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor. Later, there will be a private burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.

Donations may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club through www.outdoors.org/get-involved/donate/tribute-gift.cfm.

bcook@phillynews.com

610-313-8102