Hingham Community Celebrates the Life of Sean Ryan

Hundreds of members of the Hingham High School community joined family and friends Wednesday morning at the Resurrection of Lord Church to celebrate the life of Sean D. Ryan.

Family members, classmates, friends, parents and teachers laughed and cried as they shared stories of the 18-year-old Hingham graduate who had touched their lives in many different ways.

Ryan’s teammates from his football team wore their bright red Harbormen jackets in honor of their lineman. His classmates created a video of the images of his life. In the video, many students said goodbye to their friend for the last time.

At the celebration of life service, his friends told all in attendance how Ryan had always seen the positive in life. They explained that he enjoyed the movie “Anchorman,” and was known for memorizing movie lines and for having many inside- jokes with friends.

One of Ryan’s closest friends since Kindergarten, Caleb Blackmur began the ceremony, just as his friend would have wanted, with a movie line from one of his favorite comedies. “So, how about that ride in,” Mackmur said as he quoted Allan from “The Hangover,” as all Ryan’s friends laughed.

Blackmur said his greatest memories with Ryan were watching Boston sports games together. “I know Sean impacted my life in such a positive way,” he said.

Ryan’s girlfriend, Rachel Lee also addresses the crowd.   Lee said she was proud to be his girlfriend.  

“He was my first love and I am regretful that I never got to tell him that,” Lee said. “Sean taught me and everyone else to enjoy the world.”

Lee shared a story about one of her and Ryan’s dates to Derby Hill. Ryan had spotted a cow the shape of a square, and the site of it made him so happy and excited.   “That’s exactly how Sean was,” she said. “He did things and found things that made him and everyone else around him happy.”

Lee described Ryan as having the heart and strength of an ox, the mind of an Einstein and the sense of happiness of a 4-year-old.   

“He never grew up in that sense, but he was always so mature when he needed to be and he was a perfect boyfriend,” she said.

Casey Sullivan, another close friend of Ryan shared stories about the nice things her friend would do for others.  Sullivan said Ryan would always put a smile on her face, spend time with her younger brothers, and he even drove all the way to Cape Cod to surprise her on her  birthday.

“He knew exactly how to cheer me up,” she said. “He taught me to never take life too seriously and find the joy in everything.”

Friend and classmate Dan Smooth then told stories about Ryan compiled from a large group of his friends.

Smooth mentioned that Ryan loved the movie, “Anchorman” and said he was an encyclopedia of movie quotes.  He said Ryan was a walking GPS, a sports lover and would always lend friends money if they needed it.

Ryan's siblings, Cantania Larson, Chandra Holstein and P.J., Chris and Michaela Ryan, all shared memories of Ryan’s childhood and thanked the Hingham community for all their support.

Larson explained that he was always so smart and so observant as a child and would sing songs and say funny things.

Michaela, a student at Hingham High School, said she has been so lucky to share her whole life with her brother.

“Losing him will be the hardest thing,” she said.

At her swim practice on Sunday, a day after her brother had died, Michaela had said a prayer to Sean.  She asked him to not let her swim goggles fill with fog, an annoying occurrence that always distracted her in the pool.

“I told Sean to please not let them fog up,” she said.  “They were clear the rest of practice. I know now he will always be there. He has spent his whole life looking after me and he always will.”

Mary Ann Blackmur, a friend of the Ryan family informed the crowd that Ryan was an organ donor and after his death, he had saved five lives as  a donor.

Blackmur read the prayer that best fit Sean Ryan:

“Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush of the quiet
Birds in the circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Don not stand at my grave an cry,
I am not there, I did not die.”

After the ceremony, the family invited everyone to join them for refreshments at the Parish Hall.  Friends of Ryan following the ceremony to celebrate his life.