Ryan C. Gillyard

GILLYARD

Ryan C., suddenly on April 18, 2015.

A member of St. Denis Parish in Havertown and a Freshman Student & Football Player at St. Joseph’s Prep.

Survived by his parents Shannon D. (nee Ennett) and Jeffrey A. Gillyard Sr., his brother Jeffrey A. Jr., his grandmother Pinkie Ennett and many loving Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Members of the PREP Community are invited to his Private Visitation on Friday April 24th from 2 – 4:15 PM at The Church of the Gesu 18th & Girard Ave. Phila.,PA.19130. Prayer Service at 4:30 PM

Contributions may be made in Ryan’s memory to St. Denis Parish 2401 St. Denis Lane Havertown PA 19083.

(Visitation & Funeral Information for the Public, will take place on Saturday and the details will be in Wednesday’s Paper.)

ARR: D’ANJOLELL MEMORIAL HOMES

Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing, Saturday from 9 to 10:45 A.M. in The Funeral Home of John Stretch, 236 East Eagle Rd. Havertown, PA and to his Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. at St. Denis Church, Havertown, PA. Interment St. Denis Cemetery.

Memorial service for Ryan Gillyard
April 20, 2015

Mr. Joseph Coyle English Department

lt came to our attention with a flurry of phone calls, texts, and tweets this weekend. We all began to ask questions. We asked what are called the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, and why. The what was that we had lost a beloved member of the freshman class. The when was Saturday morning, just a little after 7 am. The where 11th and Cecil B Moore; where the Prep football team was holding a spring workout. Sometimes, people put how in with the 5 W’s. But in this case the how is just too painful to even menton.

So next we have who. You see, the news media have told us the what, the when, the where, and even the how. But the media isn’t part of The Prep, this family, this brotherhood.
So though they tried …they failed in truly telling us the who. Sure, they gave us his name. But they didn’t know him. He wasn’t their family, he was ours. So please allow me to tell you about Ryan Gillyard.

I met Ryan back in June when he was a student in my Pre9th English class. And I also have had the distinct pleasure of having him in my class at 5th period, every day, for the last 8 months. There were several things that struck me about Ryan within the first day or two of meeting him. First is that he had a million-dollar smile. You would look at him smile and think “man, I want to see the world the way he sees it” His smile was so infectious. He was funny. When you saw Ryan, you inevitably saw someone in close proximity that was cracking up laughing. And he was a sharp dresser – Ryan had style. I think maybe in his mind, he was the best dressed kid in the school.

These may seem like silly observations, but they are rather telling of the type of young man Ryan was. He had that smile because he was genuinely happy. This place, his friends, the football team …these things made him happy. Yesterday Coach Carlin said to Ryan’s father, “If there’s anything you need, please just ask.” Mr. Gillyard’s response, amidst all the pain he was feeling, was so poignant. He said, ‘”You already gave him everything. The Prep and football. You already gave him everything.”

I mentioned that he was always making people laugh. Yes. And this was part of who he was. He wanted to make the lives of those around him just that little bit better. Whether it was a joke to make someone smile, a pat on the back in the weight room for that teammate who needed encouragement, playing football with the little kids from his neighborhood, or helping his mother, Shannon when her knees wouldn’t allow her to get things done around the house…anything. Because he believed in being a Man for Others.

I also mentioned his dress game. Sure, he was a sharp dresser, but again this was just a part of the whole. He dressed well because he put 100% into everything he did here at The Prep. He was the student who would stay after school multiple days per week in order to see his teachers for extra help and then go to football practice late. During games he was the poster boy for never taking a play off ‘. Coach Infante had spoken with Ryan about how important it was to maintain high grades because Gabe felt that Ryan had Division 1 talent. After hearing those words from Gabe, I think Ryan must have floated home from practice. His mother said that motivated him to work even harder on his grades, to put in even more hours at the dining room table each and every night. The opportunity to go to a Dl school, play football, and receive an excellent education? What a great future to look forward to.

So who was Ryan? He was the young man with the ” it” factor. He was uncharacteristically mature for a freshman. He had a passion for life. He was a leader who guys rallied around. Driven in the classroom. Fearless on the field. And he loved The Prep.

That was the who. And now, finally, the why. This is the part I have feared the most. I guess because many times we fear what we do not understand. I dread the thought of standing in front of my classes today and not being able to tell my, guys the answer to why. And I crumble at the thought of walking into my 5th period class today and looking for that million-
dollar smile, the well-dressed jokester …yet seeing nothing but an empty desk. And then saying to myself, why?

Schools are filled with young people. And young people are filled with life. And now our young men have seen a life taken from them. And it does not make sense. So the why eludes us. It makes it hurt that much more.

Gentleman now is the time to mourn for Ryan, but soon it will be time to move forward and honor him. And you can honor him by respecting and loving the things that he loved. He loved this place and he loved you guys. So be there for each other. Talk to each other about what you are feeling and be fully present listeners when others are talking. Be there for your brothers.

The last thing you can do to honor Ryan is to love and respect The Prep and everything it
embodies. How do I know that Ryan would want this? Well, on Saturday, after leaving the hospital and then spending hours here with the team Mr. Gillyard and Coach Infante walked out the front doors of the school. Mr. Gillyard walked up to one of the benches and sat down. He turned to Coach and said, “This is the place that Ryan loved. This school. I just want to sit here for a while, in the place my son loved.”

Please honor and respect the legacy that Ryan Gillyard leaves behind.

Thank you.

Visitation Information

Date: Friday, April 24, 2015

Time: 02:00 pm

End Time: 04:15 pm

The Church of the Gesu ” “(On Prep Campus)

18th and Girard Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19130

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015

Time: 09:00 am

End Time: 10:45 am

The Funeral Home of John Stretch

236 East Eagle Road

Havertown, PA 19083

Service Information

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015

Time: 11:00 am

St. Denis Church

2401 St. Denis Lane

Havertown, PA 19083

Date: Friday, April 24, 2015

Time: 04:30 pm

The Church of the Gesu “(On Prep Campus)

18th and Girard Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19130

Cemetery Information

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2015

St. Denis Cemetery

Havertown, PA 19083