Godspeed to you Ryan Neff

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 04:03 Written by Steve Wednesday, 10 September 2008 09:25

A friend of mine died the other day, far, far too soon. Ryan Neff was a good man. Kind, gentle, steadfast, smart, and funny. Everyone who met him would agree–he was that kind of guy.

We met in college playing ultimate Frisbee. We both moved to Chicago in the early nineties and were close friends there. We supported each other in the big, unknown city. Then, in 1994, we both moved out to Seattle with our respective partners.

For two years, we spent tons of time together, two couples who struck out to the west coast and were taking it all in. We had many good times together.

In 1996 I ended my relationship with my then partner. That caused Ryan and I to go our separate ways, as can happen with friends in breakups. But he has been in my thoughts ever since, especially when he started battling cancer a number of years ago.

When his cancer came, went, and then returned with a vengeance, Ryan’s response was one I will never forget. He said, “It can’t always happen to someone else.”

May I have a mere fraction of the courage, grace, and humility that Ryan showed us all. Godspeed to you Toast, we all miss you.

2 Comments

1. Brooks Jordan   |  Wednesday, 10 September 2008 at 10:27 am

   Thanks for sharing who Ryan was with us, Steve.

   
2. Jodie   |  Wednesday, 10 September 2008 at 8:37 pm

   blessings to ryan and his loved ones.