Last updated on: January 23, 2025

Ron Rousey was an important person in Ronda Rousey’s life, even though he passed away when she was very young. Ronda often speaks about the lasting impact her father had on her, both in her personal life and her career. Let’s take a closer look at who Ron Rousey was and how he shaped Ronda’s life.

Quick Facts About Ron Rousey

Early Life and Career

Ron Rousey was a family man working for General Dynamics, a large company in the aerospace and defense industry. He was a division chief, which means he held an important leadership position. Besides work, Ron had a passion for judo, which he shared with his daughter, Ronda. He gave her a passion for sports and physical activities, which would be huge in her life later on. Ron was very strong in moral values. He was bold enough to stand against racial discrimination at his workplace. This is how he showed his great courage and integrity.

Struggles with Health

Ron Rousey was not an easy life. He suffered from a rare blood disorder, which made his body unable to heal properly. It was the same condition as hemophilia, which is when the blood does not clot as it should. Ron was involved in a car accident, and his back was seriously injured. His body could not recover because of his blood disorder. He had chronic pain, and doctors said that he would soon be paralyzed. They thought he would end up being a paraplegic, and further down the line, a quadriplegic. For someone as vigorous and muscular like Ron, this was just a grim diagnosis.

His Premature Demise

All this pain and loss of his future plans was too much for Ron to handle. When Ronda was only eight years old in 1995, Ron took his own life. He was a massive absence in the Rousey family. Her mother was the one who broke the news to Ronda about the death of her father. AnnMaria had a major in psychology, so she could speak to her gently while still having honesty on her side.

Effect on Ronda Rousey

Ronda speaks often about the love she had for her father. She considered herself a “daddy’s girl,” and they were very close. Ron was always there for her during her speech problem when she was young. He helped her in many tough moments, and the bond between them was strong. After his death, Ronda had a tough time coping up with the loss. To help herself deal with the sadness, she imagined that her dad was just away on a business trip. She did that so that she wouldn’t forget the time when he was with her.

With growing years, Ronda came to know that she had suffered too much after the death of her father. She couldn’t have that peace and feared she mightn’t be stable always. She mentioned in several interviews that the psychological disturbances that she was undergoing with her father, coupled with his death, left her in great uncertainty regarding her own life. She always used to be terrified of losing those things that had importance to her. This insecurity of losing things always stayed with Ronda for quite a number of years and up to the moment she is currently an adult.

READ ALSO: Ronda Rousey Net worth, Age, Husband, Family, Facts & More

A Lifetime Legacy

The fact that Ron Rousey died when Ronda was this young has ensured that his lifetime legacy remains on her side. Ronda always celebrates the memory of her father in terms of whether she is practicing mixed martial arts or wrestling. She has said in interviews that remembering her father’s lessons of courage and strength helps her stay motivated during tough times. Ron’s love for sports and his determination were passed on to Ronda, who used those same qualities to become a champion in her own right.

In one scene in the documentary Through My Father’s Eyes, Ronda also shares her feelings about her father’s impact in her life. She mentions in the documentary how she finds strength in thinking of him and keeps going through difficult challenges.

Source: celebs.infoseemedia.com