Personal Passages: Ronda Ford

When Ronda Ford retired from her government career, she was ready to end that chapter in her life. However, being an energetic soul, she knew she would have to find activities to fill her time. And boy, has she! She says, “When folks ask what I do, I reply, ‘whatever I want,’ followed by my favorite quote, ‘One can never have too much fun!’”

Over a recent 10-day period, for example, she spent a weekend at the Virginia Women’s Music Festival at CampOut; hosted a friend who was visiting from out of town; saw Leonard at Movieland; took a nine-mile hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway with a hiking group, followed by dinner in Nelson County; attended Groovin’ in the Garden at Ginter Botanical Garden’s Fido Night with friends; went to Williamsburg for a 4-mile hike with a friend who’s recovering from a stroke; traveled to Savor, an annual beer-and-food-pairing event in D.C.; and took numerous walks and a few jogs with her SPCA rescue dog, Vivian.

Ford regularly volunteers for organizations such as Meals on Wheels and Sports Backers, attends Unitarian Universalist Church, museum events and adult learning classes and is active in political causes, including LGBT and women’s rights. “No more sitting on the sidelines cheering on the cause,” she proclaims. “Now I join in the fray.”