CONNECTING LIVES AND INSPIRING CHANGE

By HQ Staff

“Ryan was a social enigma,” Greg Schoepp Loyola ’15 said. “He connected with people so fast.” 

Ryan Perry Loyola ’16 (Colorado ’14) began his Phi Psi journey at the University of Colorado before transferring to Loyola University in the fall of 2016. Transferring schools doesn’t guarantee membership in a new chapter. Louisiana Gamma embraced him with open arms, like a bee welcomed to a new hive. Ryan’s new home in the Big Easy matched his vibrant spirit, and he quickly became the chapter’s social chair.

Ryan had an uncanny ability of connecting people and making new friends wherever he was. His charming, fresh-faced exterior and passion for networking made it difficult to detect the challenges percolating within. He’d always exhibited the promise of curiosity and high intellect, though his learning styles differed from his peers. This perhaps gave him an artist’s perspective. Clever, empathetic, and driven, but weighed down by things out of his control. His learning disabilities and anxiety would give rise to Ryan’s hidden struggle with addiction.

Along with Ryan’s persistent anxiety, another ailment made its way to the surface. Ryan was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2016, adding another layer to his challenges. Luckily, Ryan had the support of chapter brothers and family who encouraged him seek professional help.

Ryan attended a rehabilitation center after dropping his studies at Loyola. In treatment with state-of-the-art care, Ryan found a new zest for life. His life became filled with the joy of people and accomplishing goals again. “It was the calmest and happiest Ryan had ever been. Ryan moved to Los Angeles and continued creating community,” Allison Spitz said, Ryan’s mom.

One year sober and ready for the world, Ryan kept himself busy interning at an LA agency representing influencers. He styled photoshoots, developed a T-shirt line, and was eager to return to school and study merchandising at the Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing that coming June. In Ryan’s excitement and fast-paced life, he neglected caring for himself. He forgot to take vital medication, and in his sleep, a major epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest put him into a coma. 

His mom remembers many friends visiting while Ryan was hospitalized, an outpouring of love that still means so much to her. She got to hear how Ryan was the glue of friend groups and finally met Fraternity brothers she’d only heard of. However, Brother Perry would never regain consciousness. Ryan Norman Perry entered Chapter Eternal on April 25, 2019, at 22 years old.

While Ryan is no longer with us, the positivity of his life continues. Ryan’s parents, Allison Spitz and Robert Perry, along with his brother, Jake Perry, established The Ryan Perry Foundation, to keep his memory alive by helping others overcome obstacles and pursue their passions. Focusing on young adults, the foundation provides assistance and access to addiction and mental health care resources.

Stigma is a specific challenge facing men in addressing mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illness statistically affects men at lower rates than women. However, mental health in males often goes untreated because they are far less likely to seek help. “It’s important to keep the doors of communication open and keep trying,” said Robert Perry.

Ryan will be remembered for his best qualities – his friendship, his creativity, his intellect, his humor. He did not let his struggles with mental health or addiction define who he was or what he could achieve in life. 

As Ryan believed, and his ever-strong mother repeats, “Whatever life deals you, you deserve to be happy.”

The Buzz About Community

The bumblebee is a symbol of community. Their movement from plant to plant represents the interconnectedness of all living things. The bumblebee is a messenger bringing the secrets of life and service. Ryan was the human equivalent of a bumblebee. His web was vast and his circles broad; the impact he made on those he crossed was deep. The Foundation will honor Ryan’s life and memory by carrying his bumblebee with us for the balance of ours. We can think of no symbol that better symbolizes our goal of positively impacting the community than the bumblebee.

The Ryan Perry Foundation is rooted in the belief that young adults can overcome challenges and obstacles if they are nurtured, given opportunities and supported by a caring community. The organization recognizes the uphill climb many face today, and their philosophy is experiential – they learned through Ryan – the importance of empathy, understanding, opportunity and community. These ingredients were critical to Ryan’s recovery.

To learn more, visit: theryanperryfoundation.org.