David Ryan, 1996-2024, 2018 Intercollegiate Individual Champion by Rob Dinerman
photo Squash Ireland
Dateline October 29, 2024
--- DSR is sad to report that David Ryan, the captain of the 2017-18
Harvard Ivy League championship team and winner of the 2018
Intercollegiate Individual Championship, passed away in his sleep this
past Saturday night at the grievously premature age of 28. Ryan is
survived by his father Eoin, a renowned coach at the Sutton Lawn Tennis
Club for the past three decades who was named Coach of the Year by
Squash Ireland in 2013; his mother, Suzanne; and his sister, Stephanie.
Although Ryan won numerous junior titles growing up in his native
Ireland and later played with distinction on the PSA tour as well ---
including reaching the semifinal round of the 2022 Limerick Open ---
the highlight of his squash career came during his senior 2017-18
season at Harvard, where he went undefeated throughout the dual-meet
season and national-team-championship (known as the Potter Cup), in
which the Crimson reached the final round before losing to Trinity
College. As a last-minute entry into the Individual Championships when
several players withdrew, Ryan culminated his career by becoming the
only unseeded player in more than a half-century to win the Individual
Championship. His 96-hour odyssey from non-entrant to champion ---
during which he defeated, sequentially, Penn No. 1 Andrew Douglas,
Dartmouth No. 1 Alvin Heumann, Ryan's Harvard teammate (and current U.
S. National Champion) Timmy Brownell, and Trinity College No. 1 Kush
Kumar, against whom Ryan trailed 10-8 in the fifth game before
conjuring up a four-point surge to 12-10 --- will go down as one of the most
outstanding achievements in the history of Harvard squash.
In the wake of David Ryan's untimely
passing, the Harvard coaching staff released the following statement to
the Harvard squash community:
Dear Teams,
You have no doubt heard the news about David. A tragic loss.
We all share many memories (you’ll have stories we’re not aware of!!) and I hope you are reconnecting with each other.
His fighting spirit on the court, his humor and mischievous nature is how I remember him.
His caring, and his big-brother way about him to younger team members.
His unbelievable run to victory in the Individuals, captured
brilliantly in the best Harvard Squash shot ever. (and him asking for a
gin and tonic right after!)
Just some of my memories.
He had his share of run-ins with the higher-ups, but always with a wink
of his eye and usually nothing more than a sigh from the powers that
be. ‘Oh that David Ryan!!’ they seemed to say.
I knew his time with us would be interesting when I found out he was on
a first- name basis with members of the Harvard Police…and indeed it
was.
Too short a life…but four unforgettable years with us. Stories to be told and retold and some I shared with our teams today.
Our hearts are full and I have a lump in my throat as I write.
Stay connected. Let’s not lose sight of the deeper meanings of our lives and what true friendship means.
