Eric William Ryan, 37, of Melrose, MA, passed away unexpectedly on April 2, 2024. An accomplished runner and structural engineer, Eric will be remembered first and foremost as a loving, dedicated, and supportive husband and “Dada.” Kind, generous, and thoughtful, he will be terribly missed by those whose lives he touched.
Eric was born on November 24, 1986 to Karina and David Ryan, welcomed by older brother Adam. From an early age, Eric displayed an insightful, mature, and loving quality, and was a caring and supportive son. He was always on-the-go with his big brother, skating, playing, and having outdoor adventures. While at school in Kingwood, WV, he played soccer and basketball and discovered his passion for running. As a senior at Preston High, Eric broke an 18-year record by running a 4:13 mile, and in 2015, was named to the Preston Athletic High Hall of Fame for his achievements. Eric also often summered in Duxbury, MA, where he met many close friends and was able to enjoy the presence of his mother’s family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins).
After graduating from Preston High in 2005, Eric went on to attend Cornell University with both academic and athletic scholarships, where he studied engineering and was a member of the track team. After graduating from Cornell, he went on to earn his master’s degree in Engineering and continued running at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
During the very last week of senior year at Cornell in 2009, he met his wife, Erica Gornstein, through mutual friends. After many adventures together and supporting Erica through her PhD, they married in 2016, quickly adopted their dog Toby, and lived in Brookline and Cambridge before settling into their home in Melrose. Eric and Erica welcomed daughters Ella and Avery in 2019 and 2022. Eric absolutely adored his girls—reading to them, playing with them, and making them laugh were highlights of his day. Eric and Erica truly enjoyed spending their time together as a family, whether it be exploring a new beach, walking around Boston, or heading to the local playground or library.
After receiving his master’s degree in 2011, Eric began working at VERTEX, where he gained the trust and admiration of his colleagues and earned his professional engineer’s license. As a Structural Engineer within the Forensics team, Eric was an incredibly respected, driven, and accomplished teammate, leader, and expert. He was a regular contributor and participant for various VERTEX charity events, including charity runs.
Eric kept running as a part of his life as a member of the Battle Road track club, and always enjoyed trying out running routes and trails in the neighborhood and the Fells. Ella and Avery had fun cheering him on in various races.
Eric leaves behind his wife, Dr. Erica Gornstein, and his two daughters, Ella and Avery. He also leaves his wife’s parents, Aaron Gornstein and Sharon Engelhardt, brother-in-law Matthew (sister-in-law Rachel, niece Maya), his loving mother, Karina Ryan, his maternal grandmother, Priscilla Wonkka and late grandfather, Richard Wonkka, brother Adam Ryan (sister-in-law Vanessa, niece Azalea). He is also survived by many family and friends who love and miss him deeply.
“One of the best people I know” was a sentiment shared by those who knew him. Memorial services to celebrate Eric’s life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills (309 Washington Street) at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a contribution, you may consider Eric’s daughters’ 529 education plans: https://go.fidelity.com/ocry2k and https://go.fidelity.com/hnhqj3