Ryan David Kelly

Ryan played little league in Winter Garden, Florida in 1994-1996. Ryan was always able to make friends with all cultures. His best boyhood friend was Oscar, and they were outside all the time playing. If it was raining, they were playing video games inside. Sports were a tremendous part of Ryan's life. He really enjoyed playing, attending events, watching on television, and discussing sports. During his lifetime, he participated in basketball, baseball, football, soccer, wrestling, track and field, golf, tennis, billiards, table tennis, bowling, and jai alai. The jai alai was with his uncle Dave who became a jai alai figure. Ryan would like to discuss with me if bowling should be on the list.

His grandparents, Bud and Diane, worked at Walt Disney World, and Ryan became a full-fledged Mouseketeer. We were able to go to the parks at will, and he went to every park numerous times.

Ryan saw his first Magic game at just 3 or 4 years old. While in training to become a fan, at his first game his dad gave him too much of everything except for cookies, so he lost everything but the cookies. For the next 17 or 18 years, Ryan and his dad attended games on a regular basis. Ryan would tell you these were the greatest times of his life. Ryan received Grant Hill's autograph on Grant Hill's 30th birthday at a pre-season practice game in Jacksonville. He watched Tracy McGrady score over 50 points and Oscar Robinson at center court, giving their championship historical significance, as well as just about every other major Magic milestone from the late 1990's to 2010.

In 2000, Ryan became a member of First Christian Church of Winter Park. In 2006, Ryan was baptized with his sister, Jessica. Shortly after the opening of the Avalon Park Publix store, Ryan joined his sister working there. While there, he met and developed lifelong friendships and was admired as an employee and friend.

Looking for his calling in life, after trying the Fire Academy, he attended and graduated from the Police Training Academy in Alachua County. After graduation, he returned to Orlando and returned to Publix full-time.

In 2013, Ryan's mom and dad decided to open up a franchise of Freedom Boat Club in Micco, Florida to service the Sebastian Inlet area. Shortly after the opening of the club in September of that year, Ryan signed on, invested in, and became an invaluable asset and general manager. Under his guidance, we were able to open up a second office in Vero Beach. Ryan was responsible for the company, providing excellent customer service, and as a result, Ryan received universal respect and admiration from our members, employees, and business partners.

Ryan is survived by his loving parents, Chris and Lisa Kelly; his sister, Jessica Kelly; two grandfathers, Wilbert Buchanan and Jim Kelly; grandmother, Sally Kelly; two aunts, Jane Osborne and Melissa Buchanan; two uncles, Kevin Osborne and Darren Buchanan; and many other family members and friends.

A memorial service for Ryan will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015, at Newcomer Funeral Home in Orlando, with visitation time at 2:00 PM followed by the memorial service beginning 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. Donations can be submitted at the following link: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/omyf