Growing up in Los Gatos from the age of three, Evan Johnson witnessed his grandfather’s battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ivan Sitalov, who is still alive now, served as a soviet major in the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979-1982. Sitalov was left with the condition after surviving three plane crashes.
When Johnson built his grandfather an aquarium, he realized that this connection to nature—and happier times—dramatically helped his grandfather’s PTSD and overall mental health. This inspired Johnson to create his nonprofit Ivan the Angelfish in honor of his grandfather.
Sitalov moved in with Johnson’s family to help take care of his newborn sister, when Johnson was just three. When Sitalov was a child, he would take supplies from the river to make aquariums. Johnson says his grandfather was having night terrors and flashbacks a lot for a few years. So, after he built his grandfather an aquarium, he says he noticed his grandfather began feeling much better. Sitalov was inspired to rekindle his relationships with childhood friends.
“He told me that no one can connect with him, and (he) felt so alone and distant from everyone else.” Johnson said.
One of the more confusing aspects, to him, is why his grandfather would feel that way. When he asked his grandfather what could make him feel better, Sitalov answered that he wished to tell people the stories of what he’s been through. And the natural world has always seemed to give him life. Sitalov could scarcely keep the discoveries he would make down by the river to himself. Although his symptoms are more manageable now, Johnson says that he doesn’t believe his grandfather’s PTSD has gone away, or ever fully will.
Four years ago, Sitalov rekindled some relationships with old friends from the small military town of Tver, Russia, through a social media site for the elderly called Odnoklassniki (it translates to “classmates.”) Johnson believes what inspired that was witnessing his grandfather’s reaction to the aquarium that Johnson made for him and put in his room. “To me, it’s quite transformative in the fact that I can actually connect with someone. I felt a deep connection there,” he said. Johnson’s nonprofit helps people make aquariums to help them have a personal connection to nature, which was directly inspired by the love for aquascaping he shared with his grandfather.
Ivan the Angelfish
Johnson named his 501(c)3 nonprofit after his grandfather’s favorite childhood fish. “What we aim to do is spread aquascaping, which is like interior design but in an aquarium,” he said. Johnson’s favorite approach to design is through iwagumi, which uses the rule of thirds, similar to in photography. Johnson says his mission is to help heal via his love for aquariums. Johnson realized how nature, in general, is great for people’s mental health. Johnson does this by making visits to different schools and handing out jars for aquascaping. He encourages students to design the interior however they want: including moving rocks and plants into unique locations. They add in water, and maybe even a snail. This is Johnson’s way of introducing pets and aquatic environments at no cost to the children. He hopes to encourage them to become intellectually creative.
Ivan the Angelfish began in February 2025. Since then, his social media accounts have reached 5,800 followers on Instagram, 1,600 on Meta and 500 on TikTok. Johnson’s plan is to expand nationally. He’s already given presentations across the Bay Area, as well as in Arizona. In addition, Johnson attended local farmers markets, with hopes of raising funds for his non-profit.
On Friday, April 10, a representative for Senator Dave Cortese, Meghan Bedi, came to Johnson’s live aquarium workshop and presentation at The Saratoga Villas in Saratoga. Bedi handed Johnson a certificate of recognition from Senator Cortese. Johnson also participated in a news segment on KTVU2 on March 27, where he was interviewed about Ivan the Angelfish.
Natalia Johnson, Evan’s mother, grew up in Tver, as well. She remembers her father going on trips for short periods of time, as well as being gone for weeks or months for army service. Now, Natalia is a physician in Los Gatos, a career path she says was inspired by the PTSD her father developed after war. In addition to PTSD, Natalia says her father suffers from anxiety disorder and insomnia. Watching her father suffer inspired her to help others. Following in the footsteps of his mother, Evan volunteers at El Camino Hospital in Los Gatos. He’s racked-up 130 hours since September. He even received the National Honor Silver Service Award for completing 75 hours.
The mission statement for Ivan the Angelfish is to “empower communities, to create, heal and connect through transformative aquatic horticulture experiences.” By bringing aquascaping to people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and children, Johnson’s nonprofit has the potential to impact countless lives by encouraging healing and recovery through more ways than just traditional medicine. He wants to demonstrate that a relationship with nature is necessary for individual growth and prosperity.
