[3] In his early childhood, the family took visits to a Danish American metalsmith art colony at Milton-on-the-Hudson, called Elverhoj.
In 1953, realizing there were limited outlets to sell his works, Pearson, along with metalsmith John Prip, cabinetmaker Tage Frid, and ceramist Frans Wildenhain opened Shop One in Rochester, NY.
At the time, the only outlet in the United States, other than America House in Manhattan, NY, that exclusively sold one-of-a-kind, handmade, works of arts and crafts.
Kay had a supporting role in the success of Shop One when it opened, sewing Marimekko dresses, making weed cards and entertaining guest artists while raising 4 children.
Ron was an avid sailor and could often be found smoking his pipe while piloting his Herreshoff Rozinante sailboat through Eggemoggin Reach and Frenchman's Bay, Maine.
Besides having taught metalcrafts at some of the most prestigious schools/art centers in the United States and being one of the most influential metalsmiths in the country, he was a founding member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, he designed flatware for the Kirk Steiff Company, he was certified by CETA to train people as jewelers.
Other honors include Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation grant (1969) National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1973,'78) trustee, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (1988–94) honorary doctorate, Maine School of Art (1987) and, in 1996, he was awarded The American Craft Council's highest honor, the gold medal.