Ivan Ronaldson – The Association’s Tribute
Published on: Aug 18, 2025IVAN RONALDSON R.I.P.
3rd August 1974 – 18th August 2025
It is with very great sadness to inform the tennis community of Ivan’s death. He died earlier today at home In Washington DC.
Ivan was a very special man and will be so sorely missed by his wife Christy, and their children Lily and Bruce and of course his parents Chris and Lesley along with his brothers Ben and Luke.
Our thoughts are with them all at this very sad time.
Ivan started playing tennis almost before he could walk and won his first national championship in 1984 aged 10 – the British U12’s. He won it a further 2 times. His secondary education took him to Canford School where he was able to continue playing tennis under the guidance of the head professional, his uncle, Steve Ronaldson.
Ivan completed his ‘A’ levels at Canford and went to work for 3 months at Fontainebleau; a quarter gap year. The life of a tennis professional was already beckoning and for a couple of years he worked at the Holyport Club before returning to Fontainebleau for a 3-year stint. By this time Ivan knew he wanted to remain within the real tennis community, and he went to work at RTC for a number of years. He was lured to work at Prested where he stayed for 4 years. During that time, not only did he put the club on the map, but he recognised some very talented players within his club membership, one of whom has gone on to become the Ladies World Champion, Claire Fahey and others to become club professionals – Richard Hall-Smith, Adrian Kemp and Charlie Packham.
Prince’s Club, Washington, opened in 1997 and had quite a few professionals in its first 9 years – to be precise 8. When the position of Head Professional became vacant in 2006, Ivan applied for the position and the rest is history.
Ivan’s was highly skilled as a marker at the highest level of our game – the eliminators and Challenge, with a great booming voice, when required, and a calmness always emanating from him. His calls were pretty much spot on, one of the player’s might not agree but he was totally respected and his decisions were always accepted. Ivan was always an absolute delight to work with, pragmatic, articulate, hardworking, knowledgeable and extremely funny. Just being in his company made one feel better.
Susie Falkner
CEO IRTPA
Below are some thoughts and observations from his great friend, Nino Merola.
Michael Do, Ivan Ronaldson, Nino Merola
The best measure of this great man is the way he made others feel. Loved.
I have long been left changed by Ivans presence in my life and I’m sure those of you who were lucky enough to meet Ivan feel the same. A profoundly generous, caring and kind human being, we should consider ourselves lucky to have spent any time with him, even if it has been too little.
Ivan had a great appetite for life, he left little unexplored, be that experiences, ideas or company. He found something of interest and something to value in everyone he ever met and it is a skill we should all endeavour to learn, though no one will do it with such truth.
Enough will be written about Ivans skill as a coach and presence in a Tennis club, it is a great loss to the game but a far larger loss to us all on a personal level. Ivan built his clubs around himself; by making us all part of his clan. He was unique.
I have too many great stories to tell, some of which are best not to be printed. But, I will tell them far and wide forevermore and urge you all to do the same. He deserves nothing less.
Ivan Ronaldson – The happiest man I know
