Ian Wrifford, 28, died in his home on Monday, March 20, 2023. Although his apartment was in Marietta, his heart belonged to Atlanta and New York City. Urban life defined Ian, who loved the gritty hustle and style of the cities. If Ian had a superpower, it was recognizing a trend – in fashion, electronics, or competitive gaming – before popular culture did. Ian’s trend-spotting only got stronger as he got older, successfully trading rare and vintage Jordans, Nike Dunks, and Yeezys for almost a decade.

Ian’s greatest loves were his wife, Lea Wrifford, and his sassy husky, Yuki. He married Lea in March 2021, and Yuki was the wedding’s Dog of Honor. Color-blind, Ian would often ask Lea to check his outfits for color coordination; and for Valentine’s Day, he painstakingly worked on a digital art piece that highlighted the couple’s signature blue rose, checking each small color block in the design with his sister for accuracy.

Ian had charm. He specialized in marketing and sales, and he was a senior on the cusp of graduating from Weber State University with a BS in sales management. He also had an associate degree in sales from Butler Community College after his time served at Walton High School. He worked at smoke shops, Royal Cigar and Xhale, but his passion was Apple products. He understood the culture, could use the technology, and was willing to help everyone who didn’t. Ian was the guy you called when your wifi or streaming networks didn’t work, although you would get a stern lecture on why you should know this stuff yourself.

He suffered no fools. Well-read, intellectual, and suspicious of any political group or objective, he recognized the faults of ideologies on both the right and the left. He was an advocate for racial, sexual, and economic equity, and had little tolerance for ill-sourced arguments. That said, he had a razor-sharp sense of humor. One of his favorite comedians was Bo Burnham, who reflected many of the same sentiments Ian felt.

If you search SmashWiki, you would learn that Ian – handle Een – was ranked 6th and 12th in the Georgia Power Rankings Super Smash Bros. Melee. He was so good, he often tutored others how to do the complicated combinations with lightning speed until he hurt his right hand.

He loved fast cars. He started off with a Mustang and then moved on to a Cobra (he often said, he felt the Cobra’s sole purpose every day was to try and kill him). He then picked up a two-seater Miata – perfect for a single guy and husky puppy. Sometimes, he would take his mom’s Thunderbird for a spin.

Ian was bipolar, diagnosed in his late teens, and his mental health dogged him all his life. Like so many others, he fought addiction, the result of trying to self-medicate his symptoms. He had done therapy, done rehab, read the books, and tried to walk new paths. Sometimes he succeeded, sometimes he did not. He used to celebrate his birthday with three other young men with the same birth date. Last year, he was the sole survivor. This year, there will be none. He hated his birthday.

He was a husband, a son, a brother, an entrepreneur, and a force to be reckoned with. He was not a coward. He loved people, and they loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Lea Waldstein Wrifford; his mother, Diane Lore; his father, Anthony Wrifford; his grandmother, Marlene Wrifford; his brother, David Ross; his sister, Emily Ross; his step-father, Richard Ross; and many beloved extended relatives and lifelong friends. 

A "Celebration of Life" Sneaker Party will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023 for Ian's friends and loved ones. If you'd like to just check in with the family and pay your respects, that will be held from 12-2 p.m., the same day. To learn the location, email or text Diane. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/ian-wrifford/obituary/

Copy