Jimmy Vona

James Anthony “Jimmy” Vona, a respected Maryland businessman, industry innovator, and devoted family man, passed away on April 28, 2026.

Born September 5, 1947, in Frederick to Helene Gregory Vona and Joseph Vona, Mr. Vona spent his life deeply rooted in the community, defined by hard work, family, and service. He grew up with brother Joseph Hancock Vona and sisters Helene “Vivi” Gregory Provine and Rosemary Vona Bernier.

As a young man, he worked on his mother’s Morgan horse farm, Joselene Hills, training and showing horses, while also working alongside his father and learning the foundations of milk production and business at Dairy Maid Dairy. These early experiences shaped the disciplined, hands-on leader he would become.

He attended Frederick High School, Greenbrier Military School, and Severn School before graduating from the University of Maryland in 1969 with a degree in food science, where he received a Milk Producers Scholarship.

In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Darlene Ridenour, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in love, loyalty, and shared purpose. Together, they raised their daughter, Amy Vona Cooney, and welcomed their son-in-law, John Vincent Cooney of Portland, Oregon. Jimmy’s greatest role soon became that of grandfather to Luke Vincent Cooney and Aidan John Cooney.

In 1989, Jimmy and his brother Jody purchased Dairy Maid from their father and grew it into one of the region’s leading milk processing operations. He often reflected on how fortunate he was to work alongside his brother, and later his nephew, Tony, an experience that held deep personal meaning. As co-president of operations, he earned a reputation as a forward-thinking leader, an innovator, and a practical problem solver. Jimmy looked to the future, always with a project underway, and often several.

Under his leadership, the company advanced early sustainable packaging initiatives and was one of the first dairies to explore large-scale vertical refrigeration, maximizing its in-town footprint. Building on that growth, Dairy Maid later acquired neighboring property to expand its plastic bottle production, ensuring even greater control over quality.

His work extended internationally, where he established milk production plants serving U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan, and Seoul, Korea, and he was highly respected both within the plants and across the industry.

Equally meaningful was his enduring business relationship with his lifelong friend, Paul Sill. They established S&V Partnership in the early 1980s and developed properties throughout Frederick, building a legacy defined by trust and shared vision.

Even in retirement, Jimmy remained engaged and purposeful, consulting as Lanco-Pennland Dairy in Hancock, Maryland, launched the Pennland Pure cheese plant, which went on to earn frequent awards at national competitions. In addition, he contributed his expertise to water treatment operations at a bottled water facility in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Jimmy’s commitment to service matched his professional accomplishments. He served as president of Dairy Tech, was a proud 50-year member of Frederick Rotary Club and served on the board at First National Bank of Maryland. While traveling to Annapolis to advocate for legislation supporting local dairy farmers, he became reacquainted with the waterways he had explored during high school, and in 1998 he and Judy made their home at “Tree Tops” along the Magothy River. There, he embraced life on the water— boating, fishing, and thoughtfully stewarding the natural landscape. Together, he and Judy worked in their yard almost every day, marking the change in seasons through daily chores, a rhythm that kept them strong and deeply connected. There, he forged many new friendships and was remembered by neighbors as generous, resourceful, and always willing to lend a hand. The couple also enjoyed traveling the world and made frequent trips to visit their family in Oregon several times each year.

A man of deep faith, Jimmy was an active member of First Baptist Church of Frederick and later Lake Shore Baptist Church, where he was part of a thriving Sunday school community. When asked about his success, he first credited his devotion to the Lord, a guiding force in his life that led many others toward their own spiritual journeys. He lifted others up, shared knowledge generously, and left most places better than he found them.

He was known for his kind nature, quick wit, and a warmth that drew people to him. He will be remembered as a successful businessman and respected leader, but most of all as a man devoted to his wife, his daughter, his grandchildren, and the many friendships he built throughout his life.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday May 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.