Memorial Fund for Ivan's Beloved Family

On August 17, our dear friend Ivan Ronaldson passed away at just 51 years old, leaving behind his beloved wife, Christy, and their two children, Lily (11) and Bruce (8).

Since 2005, Ivan had served as the head court tennis professional in Washington, first at Prince’s Court in McLean, and then at Westwood Country Club in Vienna. He drew no lines in his life, and the members he taught became lifelong friends. Whether at home or at the club, he was dedicated to making people feel welcomed and loved. At home, his front door was never locked, and friends were encouraged to walk in without knocking. At the club, he would do anything for anyone. When one long-time member developed debilatating Parkinson’s, Ivan would spend twenty minutes walking him through the building and up to the court so that he could work with him on his serve.

Ivan loved all games. He was, in his youth, a top court tennis player, with perhaps the hardest force in the game. He played on the Magic the Gathering Pro Tour and played competitive online poker. In later life, he led a Clash of Clans league of court tennis players from around the world, played Left 4 Dead online, and hosted weekly board game events that frequently went past midnight. He played Fortnight with Bruce, court tennis with Lily, and Rock Band late into the night with his friends.

Ivan flourished when he arrived at Westwood in 2022. In just three years at the club, he tripled the size of the court tennis program, making Westwood one of the busiest courts in the world. He developed a cadre of junior players, many of whom have now traveled internationally to compete in the game. He hosted and marked the World Championship, the US Open, and the Van Alen, Clothier, and Limb Cups. He loved his coworkers and the membership, and was loved in return. He sang in the car on the way to work and, in his last year, told friends that he rated his happiness an “11 out of 10.”

While Ivan loved everyone, he was intensely dedicated to his family. With Ivan’s sudden passing, Christy and the children face the difficult reality of moving forward without him, with limited savings to fall back on. Ivan’s sudden departure has left serious gaps in educational funds for the children and limited emergency savings for the family.

Ivan spent his life investing in us, and we intend to return that investment with interest. We are raising funds to provide:

-immediate financial support to help Christy pay memorial and other expenses;

-security for the future, including education funds for Lily and Bruce; and

-breathing room so that the family can focus on healing without the added strain of financial uncertainty.

On behalf of the Ronaldson family, we thank you for your generosity, compassion, and support.