The world seemed to get a little less bright recently. The dimness had nothing to do with weather or a change in the seasons.

 

It was less than two weeks ago, Wednesday July 19 to be exact, that Ivan David Gonzalez passed away. If you knew Ivan, you know he had a 1000-megawatt smile that provided light in a world too often dark. If you did not know him, he was a top-of-the-line athlete who competed here in Bridgeport.

 

For those still not knowing about Ivan Gonzalez, allow me to explain. Ivan, from Salem, was just seven years old when he passed away. He earned his athletic status as a member of Bridgeport’s Challenger League long before he received his angel wings.

 

If you saw him play, you know why he was top of the line. He was one of dozens of stars that make up Challenger League and, by all accounts, Ivan loved Challenger League. In fact, his obituary mentions it right near the top.

 

It is a child like Ivan that led Bridgeport’s Mike and Kim Martin two decades ago to start the Challenger League. Any child with special needs, in Ivan’s case it was Down Syndrome, has a place to play baseball and just be themselves. Being himself made Ivan one of the league’s shining stars.

 

“I roped Davie Andrew into announcing this year and, like everyone else, he fell in love with Ivan. When he came to the plate he announced, ‘Number 7 on the jersey and Number 1 in our hearts, a fan favorite, Ivan Gonzalez.’ He said that because he connected with the crowd,” said Martin. “He’d get a hit and the fans would start cheering and he’d stop, look at the crowd and clap. Then the crowd clapped louder, and he’d clap harder.

 

“He just had a special connection to everyone,” Martin continued. “He was a little angel on earth.”

 

People knew it, too. When Ivan became ill recently and family and friends asked for prayers, social media was flooded with prayers and photos of Ivan, many of them sporting his trademark smile and beautiful flowing locks of hair.

 

It is not surprising the child was loved. He comes from good stock. I have known his father Adam since he was kid growing up in North View and his family for even longer. His wife Cheri, who I know casually through Adam, by all accounts is a beautiful soul as well.

 

All of that goodness permeated through Ivan. When he joined Challenger League two years ago, anyone fortunate enough to be in the stands got to see it.

 

“Ivan is the epitome of why we do this league. He just brought so much joy to everyone, including the other players and everyone in the stands,” said Martin. “I dabble with photography and take a lot of photos at the games to capture the moments to give to parents and put together a video at the end of the year.

 

“When I gave (Adam and Cheri) Ivan’s photos I told them they weren’t allowed to tell anyone else how many photos I took of Ivan,” Martin continued with a chuckle. “I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of him. He was just a beautiful little boy with the most infectious smile.”

 

As you read this, take a second to look at the smile in the photos. Infectious might not be a strong enough word. Mike Martin said his wife Kim told him every time she would see the sun poking through the clouds she would always think of Ivan’s smile.

 

Joy and beauty are just part of an equation that makes the loss so difficult. I cannot fathom the pain the Gonzalez family is going through, unable to see that smile every day. Loss of a child cannot be forgotten, even with the variable of time to follow that will allow for healing and being able to cope.

 

I do know they are surrounded by family. They are surrounded by friends. They are surrounded by love. They are surrounded by their Challenger League family that stretched dozens of people deep to greet them at Ivan’s final resting place. They are surrounded by prayer from family, friends, and countless individuals they do not know because they saw Ivan at a game or on social media and found a place in their heart for him.

 

“They call these kids who play special needs kids. To us, they’re just special kids. We do appreciate it when someone tells us it’s wonderful what everyone involved does for these children. The reality is that it is wonderful what these kids, a kid like Ivan, have done for us,” said Martin. “I thanked Ivan’s family for sharing him with us these last two years. It was a blessing for him to be part of the Challenger League.”

 

Challenger was just one part of Ivan’s life where he thrived. He thrived as a son, a younger brother to Oliver, a grandson, and a friend to so many. But playing in Challenger was a very public display showing Ivan David Gonzalez did not suffer from Down Syndrome. He LIVED with it and lived life fully with it. Martin just wishes things could have lasted longer.

 

“We don’t know God’s plan, and we can’t understand it. What I do know, and want the family to know, is the separation is temporary. God promises us that,” Martin said as his voice cracked with emotion. “We’ll meet again, and he’ll be smiling when he greets us.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Ivan Gonzalez with his "buddy" heading for home, while he's shown in the second photo with his brother Oliver, second from the left, and a group of Challenger League buddies. In the third photo, he's posing with his mom Cheri and in the next photo his father Adam helps him get another base hit. In the photo just above the editor's note Ivan shows his trademark smile. Photo below shows the support of his Challenger League family as they greet the family at the Holy Cross Cemetery. All photos courtesy of Mike Martin. Video shown below is also courtesy of Mike Martin.