Ryan Munson was more than his struggles. He was a brother, a son, a teammate, and a friend whose laughter could fill a room and whose energy could brighten even the hardest of days. He had a deep love for sports, especially hockey and baseball and could always be found cheering on his beloved Boston teams. Sports gave him joy, purpose, and friendships that meant the world to him.

But behind Ryan’s smile, he carried unseen battles. From a young age, he faced significant challenges with his mental health and began to self-medicate as a way to cope. At 21, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but by then the cycle of addiction had already taken hold. Despite these challenges, when Ryan was sober, he was full of life—making people laugh, inspiring his friends, and reminding everyone around him of his incredible heart.

Ryan fought bravely, but in 2017, we lost him to an accidental overdose. That loss changed our family and community forever. For a long time, there was grief, guilt, and the haunting thought of what could have been done differently. But we also knew Ryan’s story couldn’t end there.