[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E977-E978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING RONN MEREDITH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2021

  Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my 
longtime friend, Ronn Meredith. I want to extend my deepest sympathies 
to his wife Marni, his children Cole, Ava and Reese, and the rest of 
his family. We know how heartbroken they are, and we all share in their 
grief of losing such a wonderful human being at such a young age. He 
truly loved Marni and their children with his entire being and his eyes 
twinkled whenever he spoke about them. I know he will continue to love 
his family night and day and his love will never fade away.
  I first met Ronn in college as we were both members of the Delta tau 
Delta fraternity. To say Ronn was a big personality is an 
understatement. I can honestly say, in all my life, I never met anyone 
quite like Rondo. He was smart, had a great sense of humor, and 
unquestionably the best laugh in the business. His family and friends 
were always number 1, but his second love was Cleveland sports (which 
if you've followed sports for the last 50 years, wasn't always an easy 
task).
  His energy was absolutely electric. He could express himself on such 
a wide array of subjects and was passionate about so many things, from 
golfing to the Grateful Dead. What's more is he could comfortably 
banter with CEO's on the links, as easily as he could jam out with a 
75-year-old hippy at a live show. He could have fun with longtime 
friends or a new acquaintance; an old-timer or a little kid. They all 
loved him as he did them, because through him we could feel his lust 
for life. That's what made him unique. That is what made him special. 
But no matter who his company, these interchanges almost always ended 
with a lot of laughs and a room full of love. We all just wish we had 
one more Saturday night with him. One more chance to ramble on with 
Rondo.
  It's hard to lose a guy like Ronn because he was always just so full 
of life. His cup was always full, and he made you feel like your cup 
was full too. He innately knew that the happiest people don't have the 
best of everything, they just make the best of everything. He drank 
from the fountain that was not made from the hands of men. He was 
special that way. He understood at a deep level that we

[[Page E978]]

are all connected; that we are all tied to that song that the morning 
brings.
  It's been difficult, to say the least, for those of us who loved him 
to come to grips with his passing. So many stories, so much fun. So 
many good times that we want to hold on to. But I believe God sometimes 
gives us people like Ronn, and takes them way to early, so that we 
remember more profoundly how they lived. So that we may take their best 
qualities and assimilate them into our lives. The real characteristic 
which I think we can take from Ronn, was that he just loved life in all 
its forms. His family, sports, work, music, and so much more. I can 
still see him dancing at concerts, bear hugging his people, and LOUDLY 
cheering on his favorite teams. Ronn loved it all and he did it with 
all of his heart.
  Madam Speaker, it's our responsibility to take on Ronn's philosophy 
that we are all the eyes of the world. That we need to connect to that 
love Ronn embodied every day. We need to be excited about our lives and 
share our dreams with those around us. We need to love more, share 
more, care more. We need to ask ourselves, are we kind? We need to be 
that ripple even if the water is still.
  So, we say fare thee well my brother, we love him more than words can 
say. Although he is not with us physically, he will forever be in our 
hearts. We here promise, his friends and family, that we will honor him 
and his amazing life, by being true to ourselves, compassionate to one 
another, and always, no matter what, enjoying the ride.

                          ____________________