The world suffered a great loss on April 12, 2022, when we lost Ryan Jeffrey Green. He was a beloved husband, devoted and proud father, loving son, dedicated brother, and loyal friend. Ryan was born on March 7, 1975, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and moved to Rancho Cucamonga, California for about 5 years in his childhood before returning to Utah for high school.
Ryan is survived by his wife, Erika, his son, Thomas, his mother Susan Green, brother Sean Green and his family, and his grandparents, Ed, and Betty Green. His friends and family sincerely miss him and his easy and easily recognizable laugh.
Ryan was always social and never left a room without making a friend. His love affair with sports started early and he formed bonds with his football, wrestling, and baseball teammates. The friendships he started and maintained in those early years were felt throughout his family as some became regulars in the Green household growing up and became part of so many of their family memories and stories.
Ryan attended the University of Utah and dedicated himself to the Naval ROTC program where he met some of his best and lifelong friends. Upon graduating with a degree in Political Science, he joined the United States Navy as a commissioned officer, proud to serve, and was a natural-born leader who loved both his shipmates and his time at sea.
He met Erika, his wife, while stationed on the USS Champion in Ingleside, Texas. They married in November 2000 and the laughs and tears shed during their 21 years of marriage will be treasured. While in Texas, they had Thomas, their son. From the moment Thomas was born, it was evident that Ryan was meant to be a father and the relationship he had with his son was something to aspire to. No matter Thomas’ interest, Ryan would support it and get involved whether it was coaching his soccer team, martial arts where they earned their belts together, Cub Scouts, playing games, and indulging in exotic foreign foods and action movies. Ryan would boast to everyone he talked to about how brilliant his son is and what he was doing in school and was more proud of him than any of his own personal accomplishments.
While serving in the Navy, he attended Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and earned his Master of Arts in National Security Affairs. He served for almost eleven years in various roles, but his roles as Chief Engineer were ones he found especially fulfilling.
After leaving the Navy in 2007, Ryan had various consulting roles in the civilian world. He was always ready to take on a challenge and relished his coworkers as they became friends. He chose roles that showed off his leadership abilities and there was no mistaking his eternal endeavor to better himself. This was evident when he went back to school and earned his second Master’s degree from the University of Washington Foster School of Business in 2021. These decisions symbolized his life as an intellectually curious man with the heart to serve others.
Ryan’s love of sports continued throughout his life and spent much of his free time officiating local baseball and football games. If he could take an extra game, he would never turn down the opportunity to be on the field. He would spend hours with his wife quizzing him on rules and regulations and started watching sports in a different way. He strived for excellence because his excellence affected the outcome, and he took that very seriously. He loved talking about his games and fellow officials, who became friends, and the people he would share a drink or a laugh with after a game.
Ryan’s larger-than-life personality, sense of humor, and strength of character will be dearly missed by so many. It was a privilege and honor to be his family or considered a friend. He will forever be in our hearts.
Ryan is preceded in death by his father, Bryant Thomas Green, and his grandparents, Vern, and Frances Blight.
The family requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to fund Thomas’ continuing education to Venmo@thomas-green-131.
A memorial gathering to celebrate Ryan will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from the hours of 6:00 -8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, Utah.
I had the honor of serving with Ryan on the mighty Shoup in Everett. His work as Chief Engineer was vital to many successes the ship enjoyed during his tour. He worked tirelessly and took care of his people. I was proud to serve with him and my heart is heavy to hear of his passing. My prayers and condolences go out to Erika and Thomas.
Scott Murdock
Truly sorry for your loss my deepest condolences for the family. Ryan was such a great guy.
You will be missed Ryan its been years since we have seen or spoken but we were friends. We were always in line together because of our last name. God bless your family until we meet again.
Ryan and I were shipmates from 2005-2007 at Afloat Training Group Atlantic. A great friend and co worker he was truly a larger than life personality. I’m shocked and so very sorry to loose Ryan. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Ryan’s family.
I am so sorry for your loss. Ryan was my colleague at UW and one of the two people that hired me actually. He was and will continue to be an inspiration to those of us who worked with him. We will keep him and you all in our thoughts.
To Ryan’s Family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I went to school with Ryan.
He was one of a kind and a great man who will be missed.
I was just talking to him the day before he passed away 😢
Rest in paradise my friend you will be missed ❤️
Ryan,
It was great meeting a like minded individual, and being able to talk freely about anything and everything with you. You are a good dude and you will be missed but will never be forgotten.
Ryan was one of our brothers in NBUA, due injury I never got to work any games with him, but heard many good things about him, we will all miss him in NBUA doing baseball games. it a close brother hood community, my deepest and sincere condolences to all his family we will all surely misll him
I recently worked with Ryan at the University of Washington and I had nothing but respect for him. He had a terrific work ethic, was a leader with integrity and stood up for what he thought was right. I'll miss chatting with him about the Navy, refereeing football, sharing stories about working from home and how we see the world changing around us. He was a great guy and I'll miss him.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan while he was stationed at Naval Base Everett and we quickly became great friends. He was a blessing in my life and I am lucky to have so many, many memories of our friendship over the last 25 years. My condolenses to Erika, Thomas and the entire Green family.
I remember Ryan being a kid I looked up to at Cucamonga JR. High School. He was always smiling or laughing. I was not one of the cooler kids in those days, but he was still cool with me.
Ryan was an amazing NBUA brother of mine, and I miss him. I miss his straight up no nonsense approach. I knew he had my back no matter what. I miss his huge smile and mischievous humor. I looked forward to every game I did with him. He made me better. He was a warm, joyous, sincere soul, and i will remember him fondly. My condolences especially to his family.
Ryan and I were bus buddies for many months while he worked with UW Information Management at the UW Tower in Seattle. I enjoyed our talks so early in the morning and interacting with him in our offices. Occasionally, we'd brave traffic together when I'd drive him home after work. He was funny and brilliant and a wonderful person. I send my love and prayers of peace to his family. Know that you are not grieving alone.
I knew Ryan the past few years as a partner on the baseball diamond officiating.
I got to know the man he is off the field in our pregame and post game discussions.
I saw a man that wanted to do the right thing morally , not just in the rule book.
He stood up for Justice and spoke up and questioned chaos and I know that carried over
into his personal life.
Ryan was a man that if I could have a handful of men in my lifeboat he would be one of them
because I knew he would always do the right thing and take it his actions to heart.
I will miss him and the everlasting gift he gives me is to take that step to know another person on a
deeper level and to never take this precious life for granted.
Stunned, as with all of the umpires that worked with Ryan. I loved listening to Ryan tell stories of his experience as Chief Engineer/ Lt. Commander, and we shared several laughs over his reminder about how classic submariner roasts can be timeless -- haha. (YKWIM) A great loss, and we will forever remember Ryan.
I got to know Ryan over the last several years by working football games with him through PNFOA. I was fortunate to have worked several games with him this past football season and was always impressed by his dedication and demeanor on the football field. It was clear to me that Ryan was a man of integrity and I enjoyed and appreciated the chance to get to know him. He strove not only to improve, but to make those around him better, and I will miss everything he brought to our organization. Rest easy, my friend.
My only experience working with Ryan was football games last year. Since I was new to the organization, Ryan was very helpful to show me how to get better. He was very kind and approachable when I had issues either before or after our games. I’m very sorry for the Green family’s loss. RIP Ryan.
Ryan and I joined NBUA at the same time and immediately became great friends. Possibly even more important, we loved working games together. We always celebrated when we saw on our schedule that we had an upcoming game(s). He referred to me as "old man" and I LOVED it. My heart is broken, I will miss him so much, he truly was a great guy. He will never be replaced in my head and my heart.
I was stunned and deeply saddened by this news. I was barely able to pull myself together and umpire a game the day I learned of his passing. I was Ryan’s mentor in both baseball and football officiating. We spoke almost weekly; texted or emailed more often than that. In training Ryan arrived at least 30 minutes before the next earliest person and always helped me set up the room and prepare for the class. He had such enthusiasm for any topic. Our last game together was umpiring a baseball game at the Mariner’s stadium. It was one of the best games either of us had ever been involved in – I’m so glad we have pictures of our crew that day. I miss him immensely; I wish I knew the words to bring comfort to his family and friends.
Ryan was a brother on the baseball field and just a great story teller in the parking lot before and after. I enjoyed working games with him and sharing tales. He seemed a bit larger than life and I thought I would have more time to get to know him. I still owe him a plate.
Please accept my sincere condolences for your enormous loss.
I was privileged to work with Ryan for several months just before the pandemic hit, and was able to work with him in person and get a glimpse of his professional work ethic as well as his warm and humorous personality. He was always serious and focused in many, many meetings in those days but was able to distill the essence of the issues with positive attitude and humor.
He often chatted about his passion for sports, pride in his family and fun hobbies he and his wife shared, like ordering international snacks to explore offerings from various countries.
I will remember Ryan as a bright and positive person I was lucky to cross paths with. He will be missed in the University of Washington community.
Sincerely,
Snezana Popovic
On behalf of the NBUA, our sincere condolences Erika. Ryan wbe missed on so many levels. As an umpire, one who served his country and a great friend.
Mark Clough
NBUA Assignor & Friend
We are sending much love, many hugs, prayers, and condolences. May his life be continuously celebrated in your memories and the lives you live. <3 <3 <3
To the Green Family,
My heart just hurts for you. I experienced his larger than life personality, his bear hugs, & that contagious smile that lit up any classroom at Cucamonga Jr. High. I send my deepest condolences to you all.
G. Hiratsuka
It was an honor and a privilege to play football with this man...just before we all lost him we talked just a few days before...he was excited to go pick his son up from college...I still think about you brother and I will never forget...you had my back on the line...and you are still and will always be my brother....love and miss you.