Ryan Patrick Duffy, 37 years old, passed away on December 18, 2023 in Melbourne, FL after complications from a spinal cord injury he incurred in 2010. He was born on September 7, 1986, the son of Cathy and Kevin Duffy and brother to Nick Duffy. He lived in Sebastian, FL.

Ryan was an amazing friend to all and a wonderful son, brother, uncle, grandson, and man. He became a baseball player starting at the age of 4 and participated in the sport he loved through his entire childhood. He became a star player at Barron Collier High School, earning first-team all-state honors in Class 5A in 2005 and graduated with a 3.99 GPA. He was a 2010 graduate of Mississippi State University with a B.S. Degree in Business Management, and where he played SEC baseball under Coach Polk and Coach Cohen for five years. Ryan became a lineup regular as a catcher during his redshirt sophomore season and swung a big bat for three years. His MSU career totals: a .334 batting average, 27 home runs and 99 RBI's. In 2007 he was part of the College World Series team playing at the old Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE and he was featured on ESPN opening credits leading his team onto the field during the summer of 2007. One of his most cherished possessions is his 2007 College World Series ring. Ryan was well known for his love of fans and kids, always staying late after every game to sign autographs and take pictures with all the kids.

Ryan became a vent dependent quadriplegic following a diving accident in Key West, FL on August 14, 2010. His life was forever changed on this date. He outlived his life expectancy surviving and living his best life for 13 years following his accident when doctors advised patients in his condition normally survived 5-10 years. Ryan was always an outperformer. He was the happiest over the last 7 years. He was so excited for his brother Nick to marry Brianna and even happier at the birth of his nephew Jack who is now 3 years old.  Jack gave new meaning to Ryan's life. Following his accident, he lived with his mom and dad who cared for him and worked with a staff of round the clock caregivers to meet his needs. In April of 2023 he moved into his own house on the same property as his brother. He lived in a guest house attached to the main house that Jack, Nick and Bri lived in and that made him so happy to be close to those he loved most. Ryan's more recent hobbies included growing succulent plants, and gardening with his caregivers. He actively followed the stock markets and was able to use his voice activated iPhone to track all his favorite stocks. He also had recently gotten a computer set up with a QuadStick to enable him to play video games and to use a desktop computer. He was very excited to have another hobby to fill his days. He was also the ultimate movie critic and was always advising friends and family on the best movies and shows to watch.

Ryan is survived by his parents, Cathy and Kevin Duffy, his brother Nick and wife Brianna Duffy, his nephew Jack Ryan Duffy, grandparents Ann and Robert Cameron; Uncles Shayne (Cynthia) Cameron and Michael (Dawn) Cameron; cousins Jessie Corby, Sarah Cameron, Chase Cameron, Kari Cameron, Candice Cameron, Trenton Cameron, Rachelle Edwards and Amber Conlin. Ryan was predeceased by his grandparents Richard Cameron, Patrick Duffy and Marjorie Duffy and his uncle Dickie Cameron. His caregivers all helped to improve his life every day and worked so hard on his behalf. The family would like to thank his current staff Jeremiah Reilly, Robbi Whalen, Nick LaBelle, Zarria Andersen, Lottina Murray and Brittany White who all stayed with him during his final days in the hospital.

To know Ryan Duffy was to love him. He will always be loved. We know he is no longer encumbered by his wheelchair and is now free to do all the things he enjoyed.

A private Celebration of Life will be held with family and close friends to say their final goodbyes sometime after the 1st of the year.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to The Shepherd Center, an acute care facility in Atlanta, GA that specializes in Spinal Cord injuries: www.foundation.shepherd.org