Celebrating the Career and Legacy of Roy Zeidman

Though Roy once thought his future would be in collegiate or professional sports, it was Special Olympics that showed him what sports could truly be.

“Special Olympics uses the vehicle of sports for good. I saw what we could accomplish if we used sports to demonstrate our capabilities—and our vulnerabilities.”

He found inspiration in the athletes, who weren’t chasing medals, but moments of joy. There was Max Everton, choosing to step off the starting block at the start of a race and into the pool with the other athletes in the heat "because it didn't seem fair.” There was Paul Marretti, asking the restaurant staff and cook to sign the book he was featured in, By Their Works.

There was Grace Anne Braxton, the best female golfer in Special Olympics, choosing to go to a USA Games as a swimmer so her fellow golfer and friend, Graham Wright, who had never been to a USA or World Games, could have the experience of competing at the highest level. There was Sterling Grooms who didn’t go for a fourth gold in powerlifting at the World Games so the athlete he beat in the other three events could have a chance at gold as well.

These moments weren’t just touching — they were transformative.

“I learned so much about empathy, inclusion, acceptance, honesty and respect. The athletes teach me every day how to be a good person.”

And it wasn’t just the athletes. Roy always speaks of the people around him — the staff, volunteers and law enforcement officers who, as he put it, “weren’t worried about who got credit, just that the job was done well for others.”

Roy Zeidman’s journey with Special Olympics Virginia began well before his first official day on staff in 1987. As a college student, he volunteered at local events, quickly discovering the power of sport to connect, uplift and transform. Later, while working at Ford & Westbrook Advertising, Roy brought Special Olympics Virginia on as a pro bono client, helping craft newsletters and supporting events through public relations and design. It was a natural extension of his passion, and when the Director of Public Relations position opened, he saw an opportunity to take that passion even further. He applied — and began what would become a remarkable, nearly four-decade career devoted to inclusion, integrity and impact.

Photo by "Kyle Holsten"

Photo by "Robert Tassy III"

Roy began his official tenure at Special Olympics Virginia as Director of Public Relations, during a time when the entire staff numbered just 11 (the team today includes 42). In those early days, everyone was a jack-of-all-trades, and Roy thrived in the fast-paced, all-hands-on-deck environment. Just two years later, in 1989, he was named Director of Marketing and Development, and by 1998, had become Vice President of Marketing & Development. In 2000, he stepped into the newly created position of Senior Vice President.

Today, he leads the development team; manages planned giving; guides the Law Enforcement Torch Run; oversees the integrated direct marketing program, which includes direct mail, online giving and telemarketing; and supports corporate and individual partnerships. He’s also credited with launching two of Virginia’s most iconic and successful events: the Polar Plunge and the Plane Pull.

But more than titles and responsibilities, Roy will always be known for his unwavering belief in the mission and his ability to turn ideas into action. He shifted from managing the logistics of events to guiding their long-term vision and strategic growth, ensuring every dollar raised, every campaign launched and every connection made served the larger purpose of empowering athletes and strengthening communities.

Roy also has served on numerous national and international Special Olympics committees, including the U.S. Advisory Council on Finance and Development, the Planned Giving Advisory Group, the Integrated Direct Marketing Advisory Group, and the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council. In 1997, he was inducted into the Chief Richard LaMunyon International Torch Run Hall of Fame in recognition of his dedication and leadership.

Over the course of 37½ years, Roy has left a lasting mark on nearly every facet of Special Olympics Virginia. When looking back, he shared the below as some of his proudest accomplishments:

• The Torch Run, which reached its first $1 million milestone in 2013, after 26 years of steady growth.
• The Polar Plunge, which he launched and nurtured into a $1 million event by 2011 — and a $2 million event in 2024.
• The Plane Pull, which passed the half-million-dollar mark in 2022, 30 years after it began.

Beyond numbers, Roy takes the greatest pride in the people. He’s watched countless law enforcement officers, initially “volun-told” to participate in the Torch Run, become true leaders and champions of the movement after connecting with athletes. He’s loved seeing the behind-the-scenes teamwork come to life at Summer Games, Fall Championships and every fundraiser and competition in between that turned planning and details into joy and impact.

One of his most powerful memories came during the 2004 International Torch Run Conference, hosted by Virginia. Roy helped organize keynote speeches delivered by athlete leaders — an innovative and bold move at the time. With coaching support from Booz Allen’s Toastmasters group, the athletes trained, practiced and ultimately delivered powerful, emotional addresses. After one session, a Toastmasters volunteer approached Roy with tears in her eyes. She was pregnant, she said, and had recently learned her child might be born with Down syndrome.

“She was scared and unsure what to do,” Roy recalled. “But after working with the Global Messengers, she told us her outlook had completely changed. ‘Now I see the possibilities are limitless for my child, whether they have Down syndrome or not.’“Helping people get to that conclusion shows the power of engagement—and the power of this movement to change paradigms.”

As Roy looks toward retirement, he’s ready for a new kind of adventure — one that honors the dreams he shared with his late wife, Barbara.

“I’ve taken this as far as I can. It’s time for others to take it to the next level, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of the experience. After losing Barbara in 2024, I want to live the dreams we had — traveling, experiencing all that is good in life. I need a new adventure.”

That next chapter will also include more time with the people who mean the most: his two grown children, Matthew and Ellyn, and his two grandchildren, Sadie and Cooper, who bring him endless joy and pride.

Though he’s stepping away from day-to-day operations, Roy’s presence will continue to echo through every event, every fundraiser, and every athlete’s success that his work helped make possible.

Special Olympics Virginia President & CEO David Thomason shared this reflection:

“Roy’s impact on our organization – and on so many involved in it – is far reaching. He has shaped how we raise funds, how we build an innovative culture, how we best serve those in our program, and how we keep athletes at the center of all that we do. Roy has shown us what it means to lead with heart. His unwavering belief in this movement has inspired so many. We are better because of him – and we’ll carry his legacy forward with pride.”

Thank you, Roy, for 37½ years of leadership, laughter and love for this mission. You’ve made Virginia a more inclusive, joyful place, and you will always be part of the Special Olympics family.