Ryan's 2021 walk

It has become a tradition ~ the year three “Ryan Walk,” as it is being called, was really nice and made the worst day ever so much better. Thank you to everyone who joined us.

Again, a group of us walked the scenic East Shore Trail in memory of Ryan. What a beautiful fall day with everything Ryan loved ~ Big Blue, exercise, friends, and family, and, of course, the plunge into the icy Lake Tahoe water at Sand Harbor. We all had to run a lot farther this year ~ the Lake is so low ~ but polar plunge we did ~ brrr!!

We dried off and headed to Carolyn and Greg’s home for brunch and the most beautiful Bloody Mary bar! and the most delicious Mimosa bar! and the loveliest array of food! Our friend Tricia made nine autumn-themed gift baskets which were used as center-pieces and then auctioned ~ thank you Tricia and thank you to all the bidders and congrats to the winners! The money raised went right into the Educational Trust.

So many people offered to help, and so many did. Thank you to Tricia, Kari, Jalie, Julie, Paul, Chelsea, Jackie, Greg, Ellen, Doug, Abby, Kim, Kelsey, Bob, Chandler, and of course Carolyn and Greg for the Sunshine Deli quiches and for opening their home for the brunch. . . and then the long afternoon of Wolfpack football and Giants baseball! And thanks again to Gracie for designing the shirts this year and to Carol and Jim for donating them. J

We miss our Ry every day, think about him constantly, and remember his smile, laughter, wit, warmth, smart-alecness, flirtatiousness, and his zest for life. We live larger because of him. 

Paul Mathews raised a glass to toast Ryan, and to introduce a special walker this year ~ Daniel Lindbergh Lang, who met Ry at Nevada Boys’ State in 2014, when Ry was a counselor for Daniel’s city.

Daniel shared memories of his time at Boys’ State, and especially of Ryan’s impact on him and the other high school juniors. Because of Ryan’s impact, Daniel became a Boys’ State counselor, as did a few other young men, and about Ryan, Daniel writes, “I'll start with Ryan's most memorable qualities. He was so chill, with a great smile. I remember he was working for lululemon, and other counselors on staff would amusingly tease him for it. He was fit and well-dressed. Ry would have meals with us and be with us many evenings. Sometimes city counselors could be really hard on us, but Ryan was among the nicest guys there. I think many of my fellow delegates and I looked up to Ry for that reason. He was like an older bro. I remember my first meeting after having been elected to be my city’s Assemblyman; I was preparing to caucus to become Speaker and I did not know much about the Speaker position. We started caucusing and my speeches were not excellent, but Ryan noticed me and called me over to where he was sitting. He asked me with a bit of confusion what I was doing, described a bit about the power of the position, then gave me a pep talk. He had more confidence in me than me! Once I wound up in the State Assembly in Carson City, I did kick myself a little when I realized how much power was at stake.

Another memory is from one of our last nights: a handful of the guys and I were shooting the breeze in one of our Juniper Hall rooms with Ryan. We were asking him about how to talk to girls or something. What I remember clearly is that we felt great admiration for him. He made life sound much easier than we realized. It is as though he gave us his chillness.

I became a counselor for Nevada Boys' State the next session in 2015 and again in 2016. As a counselor, I had always tried to channel a bit from my own counselors' perspectives. In 2021 I again returned to Boys’ State as a counselor, and this year especially, I felt like I channeled Ryan as a counselor. There was a delegate with whom I worked closely on the news team who was thinking of running for Speaker; he won his race as Speaker ~ coincidentally, his name was Ryan.

After our closing last session, the delegates started asking us counselors some casual questions - among them, they asked for advice about how to talk to girls. I could picture my fellow delegates and me at high school age talking to Ry at the end of our program. I gave these guys the best advice I could, and they seemed thrilled as though I was some sage. I mused whether this was how Ryan felt when my guys and I gawked at his goodness. He had made challenging work feel easier.

I am touched by the lives that Ryan has impacted. He has certainly touched mine. Now I am 24, still doing the best I can. Ry lives on in my smile and care.”