Ron Heimberger Sifu – RIP
News, March 15th, 2008
Our most heartfelt condolences to the families, personal and martial, and our sincere gratitude for everything contributed to the art of Wing Chun Kuen.
One Art, One Association – Ving Tsun Ip Ching Athletic Association
Master Ron Heimberger knew he was not feeling well since August. He wrote it off as being exhausted from his travels, which he was. He continued to fulfill all of his scheduled trips and appearances. No one could slow him down, much less convince him to stop and recuperate. He just pushed on.
While on his last trip to Hong Kong, he was having severe headaches and started losing vision on the right side of both eyes. Instead of canceling his scheduled seminar in New Zealand and coming home, he insisted on making the trip. He did so, not feeling well, afterwards returning to Hong Kong to finish some business. While there, he had an MRI and they discovered that he had a very advanced and aggressive brain tumor that was affecting his vision.
He then came home and insisted on fulfilling his commitments to teach at the seminars that he had already scheduled and to marry off his daughter. With some help from his students, he was able to complete those commitments.
About six weeks ago, he knew he only had so much time, and as he considered the aggressive nature of the tumor, he decided to allow a great surgeon to remove as much of the tumor as he could. He knew this might give him a little more time. He chose, however, not to accept the radiation or chemotherapy, as it did not seem very promising for his particular situation. We, then, gave him the utmost holistic care possible to improve his situation as best we could.
Ever the optimist, and always thinking of others, he would not allow anyone to make any statements regarding his health because he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone worrying over him.
Monday afternoon, while surrounded by his loving family, Master Ron Heimberger parted this world.
Through it all, Master Ron Heimberger did things on his own terms; making his own choices; doing what he wanted to do to the very end.Master Ron Heimberger knew he was not feeling well since August. He wrote it off as being exhausted from his travels, which he was. He continued to fulfill all of his scheduled trips and appearances. No one could slow him down, much less convince him to stop and recuperate. He just pushed on.
While on his last trip to Hong Kong, he was having severe headaches and started losing vision on the right side of both eyes. Instead of canceling his scheduled seminar in New Zealand and coming home, he insisted on making the trip. He did so, not feeling well, afterwards returning to Hong Kong to finish some business. While there, he had an MRI and they discovered that he had a very advanced and aggressive brain tumor that was affecting his vision.
He then came home and insisted on fulfilling his commitments to teach at the seminars that he had already scheduled and to marry off his daughter. With some help from his students, he was able to complete those commitments.
About six weeks ago, he knew he only had so much time, and as he considered the aggressive nature of the tumor, he decided to allow a great surgeon to remove as much of the tumor as he could. He knew this might give him a little more time. He chose, however, not to accept the radiation or chemotherapy, as it did not seem very promising for his particular situation. We, then, gave him the utmost holistic care possible to improve his situation as best we could.
Ever the optimist, and always thinking of others, he would not allow anyone to make any statements regarding his health because he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone worrying over him.
Monday afternoon, while surrounded by his loving family, Master Ron Heimberger parted this world.
Through it all, Master Ron Heimberger did things on his own terms; making his own choices; doing what he wanted to do to the very end.
Thank you for publishing this memorial.
I had a chance to meet Master Ron Heimberger back in 2003 when my sifu Scott Woods opened his Wing Chun school. He was very great, he will be missed.
J. Stoll
my sincere condolences to the direct family and Sifu Heimbergers Wing Chun family R.I.P
Sifu Sergio Iadarola
IWKA
I met ron as a student here in the uk he was amazing to watch & listen to an inspiration.rest in peace sifu.
j.jennings
I had the honor to study with David pangan, Allen Higby and others, directly under Ron Heimberger for the majority of my Kung Fu studies. He was a gentle humble man, who held strong to his beliefs. One of a kind, heart of gold. Although a relatively smaller gentleman compaired to myself, whenever he walked into a room (no matter how big or small) His presence commanded the attention of others. When he would walk into a building, you’d feel him before seeing him.
He was wise beyond his years, knowledgeable, and was the kind of guy who’d give the very shirt off of his back to help a stranger. I started learning when I was just a kid…13 years old. Even so, he had patience, understanding. He loved what he did, loved his family and friends…and anybody who knew him NEVER EVER had one bad thing to say about him.
Sadly, he was buried on my birthday, but being the “glass-half-full” kind of guy I am, I think of this as a good thing; Every year, I will always remember the good he has enriched my life with, what a gift it was to know him and to learn his Kung Fu. To know what his family and Kung Fu family meant to him.
I looked up to him for many many years and still do. In essence, he along with fore-mentioned teachers, were father figures, the role models I so desperately needed. They brought nothing but good into my life and have done so for everyone else they have met.
May God rest Sifu Heimberger’s soul and give him the happiness he so earnestly deserves.
-Miles Z
hi my name is babak sayafi.my coche is sifu kamran pirnia
dost daram ba wingchun karan kharej az keshvar ashna besham
I was to be his student. Fate denied me our tea ceremony.
I was the one who Sifu Sean Meyer was sent to Alaska to train. I shall never get over this loss… With love always, your unrecognized brother… Ten Tigers…
I never had a chance to meet Sifu Heimberger, and at a loss on how he past I am vary sorry, I am studying Wing Chun under his student Sifu Jon Nielson in Murray Ut. And will do all I can to keep the tradition alive.
http://www.wingchunhall.com
Thank you
Alex Segura
Thanks for remembering him this way. He will forever be missed!!