To go to the original ryaninaustin.com website click here.
But please first read the following special note from Ryan's family.
And, please be sure to visit Prayers for Ryan and leave a message in the guestbook.
Thank you.
A Special Note From
Ryan's Family
Recent Photos: Ryan and Mom -- Ryan and Brittany
|
On
Saturday night, August 6, 2005 Ryan Reitmeyer and friends were at Cafe Blue
on Telling his girlfriend he'd be right back, they left in Ben's SeaRay. A few minutes later, the SeaRay collided into a black 35' Carver cabin cruiser that had no lights on. One of Ryan's dearest friends, Heather Strother, was thrown from the boat and her body has not been recovered. Ryan and the others were knocked unconscious. Anna, one of the passengers, came to and was able to get the boat stopped. Her screaming caused other boats to assist and someone called 911. They all said that they never saw the boat that they had hit. Medical emergency crews
called for STAR Flight and Ryan was air lifted to
A Very Special Thank you to
Brackenridge - an incredible facility both as to infrastructure and
personnel. From the 911 staff that
took the call, to the Ryan is exceptionally lucky to have had them all working together to help save his life. Please accept this note as a special thank you to each and every one of the Brackenridge team from Ryan's family and many friends. There is a link to an on-line guest book on the Prayers for Ryan website, prayers.ryaninaustin.com if you wish to leave Ryan and/or his family a personal note. Please visit the memorial website dedicated
to Heather Strother and her family at http://heather.ryaninaustin.com, register your name and leave us your memories and
prayers for the family. If you have any photos, videos, stories, thoughts
and/or Ryan and Heather had a very special
friendship that was lost forever by this accident and Ryan misses her more
than words can tell. Photo of Ryan and Heather |
More Recent Photos
Ryan Rock Climbing for Exercise –
Ryan’s 31st Birthday with Lorra and Friend – Ryan with
his Rock Climbing Buddy, Lariss
To any and
all who read this, please do your part to ensure that what happened to Ryan and
Heather never, ever happens to anyone again. It is crushing physically, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. For the
families, it is a nearly unbearable pain that never goes away.
Take boating seriously. While a fun pastime and an enjoyable
weekend activity, it can and does turn deadly in an instant.
Be strong enough to say,
"Ryan's Rule
Number 1 - When boating, everyone must have on a life jacket."
Recognize that over confidence
can kill.
"Ryan's Rule Number 2: NEVER BE ON THE
Be brave enough to enforce
these rules.
If you are in
a boat after dark, make certain that it is well lit-up and that you have a high
powered light and horn to get the attention of other moving water craft.
Ryan's family
sincerely appreciate all the kind cards, emails, stories, photos and phone
calls that have been sent and we thank you for your prayers as Ryan has made a
remarkable recovery.
No one knew better how to live life than Ryan. Doug and Debbie Reitmeyer request that everyone enforce Ryan's Rules. And live a long, wonderful, exciting and happy life! (Another Ryan Rule! - see below)
To go to the original ryaninaustin.com click here (http://old.ryaninaustin.com/)
PS - One of Ryan's many friends has shared this special and very funny story with the family:
Dear Mr. Reitmeyer,
I'm not sure if this is the best time to tell you this, but I know you could all use a laugh. On Ryan's 25th birthday, Todd McWilliams and I took Ryan downtown to celebrate. After a few cocktails I suggested we sneak into Barton Springs and swim in our birthday suits. It was Ryan's b-day after all. Well the 3 of us climbed over the fence, derobed, and jumped in. Very cold! Todd and I got out almost immediately, and wouldn't ya know, flashlights all over us. Well the cops let us dress and marched us up the hill. They didn't see Ryan hiding in the water, and I didn't want them to ask me who the extra clothes were for, so I grabbed them.
As they were writing Todd and I $180 tickets, Ryan thought he'd check to see what was going on. And of course they saw him! So he thought he'd run. Next thing we know here comes Ryan with a police escort, handcuffed, and naked! I told them it was his birthday and it was my idea. They weren't very nice and made Todd and I leave right away. But they let Ryan dress and let him go and we came back and picked him up. This is one of the most memorable moments in my life and it was too good not to tell his dad.
All of you are in my prayers. If any of you have any special meal requests please let me know. All of us just want Ryan's family to know we are here to support you and we all love him very much. God Bless, Leslee
Wishing you Love and Laughter (as Ryan always did),
Leslee Van Winkle
Leslie, Thank you so very much for sharing this story and sincerely appreciate the sandwiches, your kind and funny thoughts, concern and prayers. Please come visit with us again. Love, Doug and Debbie Reitmeyer
To go
to the original ryaninaustin.com click here
Sabra and Ryan with Ryan’s new car -- Ryan before the accident -- Ryan
and Sabra at Ryan’s 31st Birthday Party