Verona Oard

Mrs. Verona Lynn (Blackmore) Oard (“Ronnie”), 80, of St. Petersburg, FL reached the end of an amazing life on March 22, 2024. Born September 2, 1943 in northern New Jersey to George and Verona (Grobels) Blackmore, Ronnie was a Pi Beta Phi graduate of Washington University, with a Masters from Columbia. Devoted to expanding opportunity, her career in higher education financial aid spanned more than three decades of transformational change, culminating in service as a National Vice President for both Chase and American Express and as President of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. A lifelong adventurer, Ronnie was a scuba diver, skydiver and pilot, and she had a front row seat when the Beatles came to Shea Stadium. Preceded in death by her husband of nearly 48 years, William M. Oard, she is survived by her sister Barbara Hughes and stepsons Douglas and David Oard.