Growing Up

Ryan Jefferson was born on August 11th, 2005. From the moment he was born, he was an unstoppable ball of energy. From the moment he could walk, he was always playing outside and trying to whack his older brother with anything he could get his little hands on. He loved the summer, he loved playing with other kids, and he was always smiling and being the silliest kid on the block. He loved his grandfather his entire life and there was never a moment where he wasn’t smiling when they were together. His mom loved him with every ounce of her heart and he loved her just as much. Whenever she had a bad day he would give her a hug and watch her favorite show Iron Chef America with her until she fell asleep. She loved him so much that he convinced her to adopt a german-shepherd puppy named Simba, which is something she said her entire life she would never do. Simba is still a member of the family today. His older brother Noah was his best friend and as a toddler he would find the kids that would bully Noah and chase them away with a plastic lightsaber. They did practically everything together, from playing sports together as little kids to building a home-gym during the 2020 pandemic so they could lift weights together. His family meant everything to him and he was at their side whenever they needed him.

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When Ryan was a toddler, he and his mom watched the Sandlot. He loved the movie so much that he asked his mom for a baseball bat and glove, and he slept with them every night. After that, he could always be found playing with some sort of ball, and as he got older, his love for baseball grew. Over the years, Ryan grew to be as gifted a player as anyone could have coached. He loved the competition, the work it took to improve his craft, and the grind of being the best player he could be. Ryan played the game with passion, grit, determination, intensity, swagger, and confidence. He was everything a coach could ever ask for in a player because it wasn’t about him; it was about his team’s success and the effort he brought every day to make those around him better. By his sophomore year of high school, Ryan was the #1 ranked shortstop in the state of Illinois and had a batting average of .430. During this season, Ryan accepted a scholarship to play collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to accepting that scholarship, his mother attended every game and took him to every practice. While these were major achievements in his young athletic career, to him it was merely a step closer to his lifelong goal: the MLB.

Remembering Ryan

Months after accepting his scholarship, Ryan took his own life. He had no symptoms of depression, anxiety, or any other mental-health-related conditions. Ryan was struggling with something the world may never know. Although no one could see it, he was hurt. Sometimes the people who smile the brightest are the ones who are hurting the most. When fate decides it is time for them to leave us, the best things we can do to keep them alive are to remember them for who they were and strive to create a better world inspired by the memories we made with them. Ryan’s smile, heart, and love were his most beautiful qualities. Contrary to his tenacity and rigor on the field, he was the most sensitive child and was more capable of love towards his friends and family than words can ever describe.

Words from Friends & Family

“Ryan’s passion for the game of baseball was stronger than anyone I have seen. The effort he put into the game constantly pushed the people around him to succeed in the game of baseball. When I think of unselfish people, Ryan is the first that comes to mind. He was always putting his team over everything and completing the overall goal of winning. For the two years that I was friends with Ryan, he made one of the biggest impacts in my life, teaching me to always stay humble, and to never stop working at your craft.”

“As the saying goes, ‘You become the people you surround yourself with.’ Ryan was always a great friend to have by your side especially if you needed someone to make you laugh. Ryan knew how to make people smile and feel included. I remember when he saw a kid sitting by himself at lunch and everyone ignored him, but Ryan went out of his way to sit with him and make friends. Ryan had the most commitment and motivation I have ever seen in someone. This motivation was infectious and would inspire everyone around him.”

“Ryan’s smile, heart, and love were his most beautiful qualities. Contrary to his tenacity and rigor on the field, he was the most sensitive child and was more capable of love than words could ever describe. He was truly an angel and the greatest gift to anyone who had the pleasure of having him in their life. Ryan was someone who lit up the room when he walked in. Ryan had such a passion for the people around him, so selfless and a loving soul. To know him is to love him and everyone around him did.”