Ronald “Ronnie” Ray Humbertson, 45, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on Wednesday, May 21st, surrounded by family and friends, following complications from synovial sarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer.

Ronnie was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on October 14, 1979, the son of Ralph Humbertson and Daisy (Perry) Humbertson, and brother of Ralph Humbertson, Jr. He graduated from Smyrna High School in 1997 and was a member of the inaugural class at the Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD), where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Painting in 1999. He later attended Pratt Institute, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting in 2002, and went on to pursue a master’s program at Columbia College Chicago.

A devoted artist and advocate for the arts, Ronnie spent most of his career as Art Collection Manager at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. There, he worked alongside colleagues and Commissioners to connect art with the communities of Washington, DC—work that reflected his deep commitment to beauty, culture, and community engagement.

Ronnie met his husband Jeremy Gunnoe in 2012 in Philadelphia, PA, and they were married at their home in Upper Marlboro, MD, in 2016. Ronnie and Jeremy loved to travel— from New Orleans to Pigeon Forge (where the power of Dolly finally got Ronnie on a roller coaster), and the Outer Banks to Copenhagen (where they got engaged), their adventures spanned Berlin, Stockholm, London, Bath, and Ireland. They had a special knack for changing plans, navigating new transit systems, changing reservations multiple times, finding out-of-the-way and ostentatious hotels, getting lost, eating too much, and occasionally losing passports.

Ronnie’s passions were as vibrant and eclectic as his personality. He loved reinventing recipes until they were just right, planning trips down to the minute and then throwing those plans to the wayside, buying craft supplies he used exactly three times, collecting crystals mostly after intense and extensive research, gardening with grand schemes of creating a wild English garden, reading literature that celebrates queer lives and perspectives, and organizing—then reorganizing—everything around him. He adored blasting heartfelt ballads at full volume, visiting museums (especially the gift shops), and watching an equal mix of cooking competitions, travel shows, Jane Austen adaptations, British comedies, and big, loud action movies. Above all, he had an unstoppable love for animals. Over the years, he and Jeremy built a small hobby farm of cherished creatures, including their dogs Harlow and Mr. Bingley; Pierre, a Hermann’s tortoise; four feral (but spoiled) porch cats; and their indoor cats Monty, Dolly (aka L’il Bean), and Vivian—a sweet snowshoe who slept on Ronnie’s lap every night during the last year of his life and helped him discover his love for cats.

Ronnie is survived by his husband, Jeremy Gunnoe; his parents, Ralph and Daisy Humbertson; and his brother, Ralph Humbertson, Jr. He will be remembered for his tender heart, gentle soul, sharp wit, and unwavering love for the beauty in life.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 19th, 2025, at 2:00 PM at AND Creative Studio, located at 1851 McGuckian St, Suite B, Annapolis, MD 21401. All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to share memories of Ronnie. One of his dearest friends, Bethany Robblee Schell, will lead the memorial. Please dress casually and comfortably, however, in honor of Ronnie’s love for floral patterns and the color, attendees are kindly invited to wear bright colors, floral prints, or especially purple.

A Spotify playlist has been created in Ronnie’s memory. Friends and family are encouraged to add songs that remind them of Ronnie—songs he loved, ones you shared together, or those that remind you of Ronnie. The playlist will be shared and played during the celebration. (https://tinyurl.com/bdht2d5a -- or go to Spotify and search for the playlist Hey Ronnie Ray)

An additional memorial will be held at a later date in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Details will be announced when available.

Memorial donations in Ronnie’s honor may be made to:

• Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) - (https://curesarcoma.org/sarco…)

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) - (https://www.aspca.org/)

• Senior Dog Sanctuary - (https://www.seniordogsanctuar…)

• Heifer International, which provides animals and support to families in need - (https://www.heifer.org/)

Ronnie’s life was marked by joy, kindness, humor, creativity, and deep love. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion, laughter, and unforgettable beauty.

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