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Remembering
Pat... |
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Bradford (Patrick) Ryan, his brother James, and Parents -
Terry and Barbara were laid to rest Saturday February 12 2000
in Redmond Washington
Pat a Long time stalwart of the Valley rugby club has been
honored by naming the rugby
club's field after him. Hopefully this will help us remember
a very generous rugby man.
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Below you will find the submitted memories
of Pat by his friends and those who's lives he touched. |
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Dear Valley friends,
I'm deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Pat and his family
members and share in your sorrow. I remember Pat well from my
short time with you guys and enjoyed him additionally as a member
of the elate front row club. I took great pride and joy in his
match winning try he scored when we played together in the match
against Seattle B '95 or '96 at some college ground with grass
bank on one side. The way he drove over the line with low body
position through thick defense epitomized the strength and determination
I saw in his character. He struck me as a good man and I feel
the loss also.
Please pass my condolences at the White Horse to all and I
will share in your moment of silence in respect to Pats' good
memory.
Sincerely,
Colin Stokes, New Zealand, former Kangaroo coach.
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Fellow Friends and Family of Pat,
Pat was one of the first members of Valley Rugby that I had
the pleasure to meet. When I arrived in Seattle, from Chicago,
back in 1991, Pat took great strides to make me feel welcome
at the Valley Organization. My first "project" with
Pat was to attempt to refurbish an old scrumsled that was kept
in a team mates garden for what appeared to as years. It was
an awful attempt to make that rusty old thing usable again, but
we were determined to complete our task.
We attended a few T-birds games that Fall/Winter. He was instrumental
in showing me the sites around Seattle that first year. And for
that I thank him.
On the lighter side, this memory will always stand out as
a true 'Pat-ism' - Back in May of 1992, while traveling over
Snoqualimie Pass to attend the notorious MaggotFest in Missoula,
Montana, Pat glanced down at the floor board of the 10 passenger
van he elected to drive and said...
"No wonder why I couldn't get this thing over 45 mph,
the parking brake was on all the way up the pass!"
He was a true rugger. The entire rugby community of the Northwest
has truly lost one of their own. This tragedy will last a long
time in our hearts and minds as we take to the pitch for our
upcoming season
Sincerely,
Thomas Eunson, VKRFC.
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Dear Friends and Family of Pat,
Pat will always be the little bro I never had!! He had a zest
for life and was quick with a laugh, smile and a beer. A true
wild man with a soft heart. 1-4-3
LYNN
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Dear Valley Friends,
I was shocked and saddened Friday morning when I opened the
Seattle P-I and found Pat's picture staring back at me. I met
Pat while I was playing rugby at Central Washington University.
We took many trips together and went to several sporting events.
He would keep watchful eye while the Central girls drank too
much beer. He was the quintessential "big brother"
friend.
I will always remember Pat's generosity. Since I was in college,
I was without transportation and perpetually broke. He frequently
picked up the tab and let me borrow his car. When I was home
on vacations, he would set me up to work with his dad. The last
time I saw Pat, I had come home from school to begin student
teaching. He took me to lunch, and listened as I talked about
my plans for the future. I remember he gave me some advice that
I didn't want to hear. You were right, Pat . . .
Kim Miller
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May God be with You and Your Family,
One of the best memories I have when 1st coming to the north
west and playing for the Jesters was when we played Valley. The
jesters had there own Pat Ryan to match strides with their valley
opposite. The expected occurred every time the two met on the
field, " Hello Pat Ryan, I am Pat Ryan".."Why
Hello Pat Ryan I am Pat Ryan".It reminds of the great days
of rugby when the game was hard hitting and tough, but was always
a gentleman's sport, where even during the heat of the battle,
idle banter still found its place. The wild stories of the 2
Ryan's being 4th cousins 17th times removed always left the door
open for future episodes. I am sure they could have changed jerseys
in a game and no one would have thought it strange, infact, I
sometimes wish we could have!!!! I remember Pat, enjoying the
game and his love of rugby as so many of us do, to lose him simply
makes my love of the game stronger and memories of comradeship
even more clearer. Its sad to lose such a young man in such a
way, but pat where ever you are, get in touch with Roy Lucus,
and some of the other we have lost and get a game going!!!
May peace be with you and your family.
John Chapman - Past President, PNRFU Referee Society
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I would like to send my sincere and deepest condolences to
Pat's family and friends. Pat was a very friendly and out going
person. Pat would always be there to take the time and help somebody
out.
I'll always remember playing rugby with pat. When I first
played with the Valley Men's side (previously I had played with
the U-19 team) Pat was one of the first guys to remember my name
as something other than "new kid." Pat took me a side
and explained what to watch out for and how the game differed
from the previous level. Pat also tried to convince me into attending
WWU and WSU. He went about in an interesting manner... play rugby
against the school and then party like a rock star with the other
team, which is a tradition, I have kept.
Pat was a rugger in every sense of the word. Pat truly embodied
the spirit of rugby and Valley RFC. I take my hat off to Pat
and his accomplishments through out life. Unfortunately, I can
not attend the Whitehorse gathering... so please have one in
Pat's memory for me.
With you,
Alex Eves
Former Valley RFC Player - Appleton, Wisconsin
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Friends
of Pat and Family,
The loss of someone you know is always a difficult thing to comprehend
and in reality we never come to terms with it. The loss of Pat,
his brother James and his mum and dad, Terry and Barbara, is
a tragic reminder of how easily we can lose someone that has
been a part of our lives. I know I hugged my wife and kids a
little longer that day. I know Pat, James, Terry and Barbara
are in a safe place meeting and laughing with other friends of
ours that have touched our lives.
As the Valley coach for the best part of 10 seasons I had the
pleasure of knowing Pat on and off the field. Pat was one of
the first Valley players that I met when I came to the US back
in 1989. I remember going to a thing they called the "Roo
Ball" somewhere up in Everett back in '89. I believe it
was Pat who gave me directions. Some street number off I-5, 320th
if I remember correctly. So after getting on I-5, in Federal
Way, I travel north and get to MLK Way and start driving up and
down MLK trying to find the hall. Eventually I stopped in a gas
station and the attendant suggested that maybe it was 320 north.
Thanks Pat, my first introduction to US Rugby directions. I finally
get to the "Ball" and the first person I meet was Pat.
Remember this is back in 1989, Pat's metabolism was still working
and he looked lean, well dressed and made a strong first impression
on me.
Pat was always a very enthusiastic trainer, player and post game
entertainer. He LOVED the game of rugby. Pat was an "easy"
player to coach, he listened to what you had to offer and wholeheartedly
applied this to his game. The cries of "on me boys"
and "Mary, Mary" ring louder in my ears today then
when I would hear Pat yell them on the pitch. Pat also "sobered"
his post game entertaining which is another sign of the strength
and courage of his character. Pat played the game to win but
also realized that rugby was more than training and playing,
there was a thing they called camaraderie. It is in this area
where arguably Pat played his best games. He was well known and
liked in the Northwest rugby circles. Pat made a point of communicating
with the opposition after the game, to ensure the camaraderie
aspect of rugby lived on. For this Pat, the game of rugby thanks
you. Pat always went out of his way to welcome new members of
our club and make them feel part of "the team".
Pat, the tragedy saddens me immensely but the memories help ease
the pain. Our late nights at IHOP with Mike, our morning reunions
with Mike and Kay, the rugby, the road trips, the road trips
again, the drink ups, the trip to Oz, the laughs with beers,
the laughs without beers, your graduation, your smile, your laughter.
Pat, James, Terry and Barbara may God rest you in peace.
Pete, Rachelle, Ryan & Kyle Sullivan
P.S. Pat, give my mum a hug for me....... |
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Alum,
It saddens me to send this message but incase you haven't heard
the tragic news then I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The
UI Men's rugby club has suffered a great loss in its fall 1999
coach. Pat Ryan, along with his family, was aboard the Alaska
Airlines flight that crashed this week.
He carried this team last fall and kept our winning tradition
alive despite the loss of many experienced old boys. Our team
was smaller, younger, and less experienced then teams in the
past and his new style of play brought the team the honor and
wins that we have come to know. This is a loss to not only Idaho
but all rugby in the northwest. His lost will felt in all our
hearts and our prayers are with his family in this time of tragedy.
- Andy Oliver
Idaho Rugby Club President
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UI Rugby coach among crash victims
By Dale Grummert, Lewiston Tribune
MOSCOW -- They play for a unofficial "club" team, with
scant funding and virtually no pipeline to the media. So news
arrived to them slowly.
By Wednesday, however, the members of the University of Idaho
rugby club had learned that their coach, Bradford (Pat) Ryan,
had died Monday when Alaska Airlines Flight 261 plunged into
the Pacific Ocean.
Ryan, believed to be 33 years old, had coached the Vandals to
a surprisingly successful season last fall while taking classes
across the border at Washington State. He graduated in civil
engineering in December and was returning from a brief vacation
in Mexico to his family's home near Seattle
when the jet crashed near Los Angeles, killing all 88 aboard.
Brian Fretwell, a junior flanker and co-captain for the Vandals,
heard the news two days later. He and his teammates met for drinks
that night, tried to sort out their emotions, and Fretwell spoke
by phone to a longtime buddy and teammate of the coach. Then
he began writing a eulogy of sorts, which he may recite at a
memorial service next week.
"As a team, we only had a short time to know Pat Ryan,"
he wrote. "But during this time, he took us in, taught us
what he knew and treated us as he would his own family. His death
came as a surprise to all of us, and no one knew quite how to
react. Many times it takes losing someone to realize what he
or she means to you."
Also killed in the crash were Ryan's parents, Terry and Barbara
Ryan of Redmond, Wash., and his younger brother James, of the
Portland area. Like many of the passengers, James Ryan was an
employee of Alaska Airlines, an off-duty flight attendant. His
friends in the company had evidently arranged the four-day Mexican
vacation to celebrate James Ryan's 30th birthday and Pat Ryan's
graduation.
Pat Ryan is remembered as a gregarious man who took rugby seriously
and yet saw it essentially as a social sport. He had played rugby
for Western Washington University and was later a member of the
Valley Kangaroos of the Pacific Northwest League. He coached
briefly at WSU before taking over the Idaho program last fall.
The Vandals were "in the rebuilding process and did not
even dream of attaining a coach with his expertise," Fretwell
wrote in his eulogy. "With our old coach transferring for
employment purposes and the loss of 11 starters, the season looked
pretty grim and the idea of having a winning season seemed nothing
short of a miracle."
Ryan accepted the volunteer coaching job and "ran practice
as if he was the drill sergeant and we were in boot camp,"
Fretwell wrote. "The attitude of many of the players on
the team at first could be described as nothing less than hostility
and anger." But the Vandals won their first game 69-0, breaking
the club scoring record. They finished the season 4-1, the only
loss coming by three points.
Keith Van Doren, a Renton prep rugby coach and a Kangaroos teammate
of Ryan, said the Vandals had become an important aspect of his
friend's life.
"He was extremely proud of them," Van Doren said. "He
and I would carry on conversations late at night, and we would
discuss different coaching strategies. He was nonstop talk about
how successful his boys were."
In speaking to Van Doren this week, Fretwell learned that his
coach had been trying to set up jobs and housing for his graduating
players so they could continue playing rugby.
"We will all miss him immensely," Fretwell wrote, "for
he taught us all what it meant to be a brother." |
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On
behalf of the men and women of the Pacific Northwest Rugby Union,
we pass our most heartfelt condolences to Pat's family and friends.
Our nearly 1500 players and supporters, representing high-school
kids just starting careers, to the old guys reliving stories
(many including Pat), we stand with our heads bowed in his passing.
Ours is a community a little less vibrant and rich today, with
Pat's absence. I know I speak for everyone who knew Pat (especially
those lucky few who had the honor to strap on the boots in a
match with him) that I hope he is at peace, and those grieving
for his loss can find some comfort in the knowledge that his
memory and his legacy will live on in everyone he touched.
Mark Firmani
President
Pacific Northwest Rugby Union |
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Dear Fellow Friends and Family of Pat,
I was shocked to hear the news Tuesday morning that Pat and his
family were on board flight #261. My shock and disbelief soon
turned into great sadness for the loss of one of Valley's own.
Pat will always hold a special place in my heart. I have fond
memories of him traveling to Ellensburg to visit us "Central"
girls. He took great care of us, making sure we had a safe ride,
even buying us a few pitchers, he was the best "big brother"
I never had.
Pat was always willing to listen, offered some great stories
himself, and was always willing to provide advice for my rugby
game. One thing that will always stand out in my mind is his
bellowing laugh, I always seem to picture him with a smile on
his face.
I would like to send my sincere and deepest condolences to
Pat's family and friends. He will be deeply missed.
Monica Roy
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Friends & Family of the Ryans,
I will never forget the first time I met Pat. I had returned
to the infamous WWU Warthog Annual Banquet as an alum, and had
the pleasure of 'sponsoring' Pat (I think this signified the
beginning of the end for his drinking days) for his "Rookie
Rodeo". We immediately hit it off and did our best to win
every event. No one even came close in terms of intensity and
all-out comedy. Need I say more?
Many, many more memories followed over the years. The Maggotfest
& the "Magnificent Seven", The first "Tour
of the Colonies", Pat's immeasurable contributions to the
many great reasons we are all, and will continue to be Roos,
his always-positive attitude, and his enthusiasm for everything
he committed to.
I was extremely happy that Pat had accomplished his goal of becoming
an engineer. . . a task that I bailed on after the first year
of pre-engineering courses. He truly accomplished in 33 years
what most could hope for in an entire lifetime. I think he will
continue to get the absolute-most out of the next step in his
ongoing journey.
I only briefly met his brother Jim, and his dad Terry. I'm sorry
now that I never had the opportunity to meet his mom. I sensed
that this was a very close family, and in the spirit of Pat's
determination to see the positive in everything, the four of
them will not have to grieve for each other.
His positive energy will live on and we are all better for having
known him.
Sincerely,
Rob Holden |
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Pat Ryan was a true gentleman.
My brother Mike and I shared our home with Pat during the
late 80's and early 90's. He spent so much time with us that
we decided to make it official (i.e. charge him!). In effect
I gained a second brother. I also gained quite a few guys from
rugby -- you never knew who would be in the living room on any
given morning!! We even hosted a few Roo garage sales.
Any time I needed anything Pat was there. This especially was
true during the snow storm of 89-90(?) I got stuck in Bellevue
for 8 hours and by the time I got downtown to meet everyone at
the Thunderbirds game after walking to the Seattle Center to
find out it had been cancelled I had no idea what to do.
Pat answered the phone at our house on the first ring with "Kay?!
Where the hell are you?" I told him and he said to wait
right where I was and he would be there to get me. It took him
an hour to reach me and three to get home. He was truly a haven
in a storm and will be missed by many.
Kay Hill Cook
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Friends
of the Ryan Family!
I am deeply saddened by this tragic news we all received last
week. I have so many fond memories of my time spent with the
Roos in Seattle, all of it owed to Pat and the Ryan family.
Pat was the first Roo I met, he put me in touch with a great
group of guys by organising me rides to Fort Dent for training
and matches. It was Pat who organized my first job with his father
at Copy Cat Printing, without which I wouldn't have been able
to stay in Seattle. I worked with Pat and Terry on and off throughout
my time in Seattle, they were always willing to help, encourage
and give advice. I have much to thank them for, they will be
truly missed.
Christopher Thomson (Yappi) |
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