Paul Richard Ryan

He wanted all people to be able to be treated equally. He entered the prison system at 18 for a pot seed incarceration, it ruined his life, traumatized him, and gave him PTSD. This experience taught him we are all the same human race. He had compassion for others who struggled. He knew when someone was hungry or needed a laugh. He would always say “ he’s a good guy” he met no strangers . He knew life made some people do things they never would have done if things were different.He took the time to learn their stories.

Watching him with others. Laughing, telling stories, always seeing the humor in life. He was a natural leader. He made people like him, He would help them if he could, he gave his time. He talked to everyone. I love seeing him on his motorcycle he was so proud of it .I remember as a 5-6 yr old he took the motor off a lawn mower and put it on a bike, thats how bad he wanted a motorcycle!

I’ll miss our talks, I miss all the phone calls, I’ll miss the quality time that he spent with me just enjoy our time together, I’ll miss all the education, he taught me about how life is so different for people that have less. For example no health insurance, family support systems, or education, Paul wanted all of us to have these things in life.

I think Paul would like to be remembered as a good person. Life took him to places no person should ever have to go, and brought out the worst not the better. He always seem to rise above it, and give back to the community. He would ride around and give the homeless sandwiches and change out of his pocket. Paul knew what it felt like to have nothing. He will always be remembered as the one who taught me real compassion. He fought this life and addiction with compassion for others as he struggled to make it through each day. I will forever delete the words tough love from my vocabulary and replace them with love and compassion.