The Ness family could be described as loud, passionate, competitive, adventurous, and loving, but one thing stands out above all—baseball. “Baseball is really important to us,” said Elizabeth, Calvin’s mother. “Jason (Calvin’s father) and I enjoyed going to games before we had kids.”
After marrying, Jason and Elizabeth moved to Charlottesville, VA, where Elizabeth pursued her doctorate at the University of Virginia. Calvin was their first child, followed by Robinson and Mallory, making them a close-knit family of five.
As a toddler, Calvin was fascinated by trains, but it wasn’t long before baseball became his true passion. Jason took on coaching duties, and with Calvin and Robinson so close in age, they became teammates both on and off the field. Their rivalry was intense, but Elizabeth always reminded them they were building a special bond.
“There was so much competition between them,” she recalled. “I kept telling them, ‘One day, you’ll realize you have this beautiful friendship growing.’ And when Calvin passed away, I was thankful I got to see that bond form, even if it wasn’t fully realized.”
Calvin was not just a great athlete but also had a high baseball IQ. He excelled at hitting, pitching, and making plays with his glove. “We talked a lot about lineups and would break down games together,” said Jason.
Beyond baseball, Calvin was wise beyond his years, often questioning the world around him. Entering his teen years, he became the class clown, always aiming to make others laugh. He was incredibly kind to all his peers. A valuable lesson he taught his mother, a school principal, was on being present when students were sharing. "He taught me to pause and listen to what kids are really saying," Elizabeth shared.
Calvin had a deep love for his dogs and was always on the lookout for the latest trendy items for them. He even convinced his dad to subscribe to a "toy of the month" service. Reflecting on their oldest dog, Jason shared, "Bosley passed away from cancer the day after Calvin's Celebration of Life. I like to think Bosley helped me get through that day."
When Calvin was 13, he tragically sustained a severe head injury during a baseball warm-up. Despite the heartache of losing him, one decision was immediate for Jason and Elizabeth—organ donation. “We had so many deep conversations with Calvin, and we knew he wouldn’t want anything to go to waste,” Elizabeth said. “The idea of giving the gift of life was so clear to us.”
Because of Calvin’s generosity, six lives were saved through his organ donation. One recipient, a girl close to Calvin’s age, received his lungs. In a heartfelt letter, she shared how well she was doing and that she could even play sports again. Coincidentally, she had also gotten a dog.
“We saved that letter to read on the anniversary of Calvin’s donation,” Elizabeth said. “It felt like a comforting, weighted blanket, hearing from her how she’s living her life because of him. It was worth the wait.”
Calvin’s generosity didn’t stop there—through tissue and cornea donation, he has helped many others as well.
Calvin is deeply missed by his family, friends, and community. Though the Ness family will always carry the weight of their loss, they refuse to remain on the sidelines. They are committed to continuing as a family of five by allowing Calvin’s story to evolve and inspire new chapters.
In his memory, they founded C-Will, a program dedicated to funding Charlottesville City middle school athletics. Inspired by one of Calvin’s favorite rappers, Juice Wrld, who said, “The goal is not to live forever but to create something that will,” the Ness family is determined to make C-Will a lasting legacy that honors Calvin's life.
Jason also invited LifeNet Health to a UVA baseball game this past season in Calvin’s honor. As a LifeNet Health Ambassador, Jason shares Calvin’s story to inspire others to give the gift of life.
Calvin’s remarkable life, generosity, and legacy will continue to positively impact the world for generations to come.