Cover photo for Douglas Ryen's Obituary
Douglas Ryen Profile Photo
1953 Douglas 2013

Douglas Ryen

October 1, 1953 — January 11, 2013

Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Doug graduated from UC Davis in 1976, and then worked as a manager at the ASUCD Coffee House and UCD Student Housing until retiring in July 2011. His commitment to pursuing cooperative, sustainable ways of living and working was a focus throughout his career. He is survived by his wife Sally, daughters Emma and Maddy, son-in-law Joel Finley, and the families of brothers Richard Dunn and Lance Ryen, sister Kathleen Long, aunt Anna Marie Bakken, and parents-in-law Jack and Nelda Bennett. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clark and Nina Davis Ryen. The family received an outpouring of compassion and wisdom from friends, co-workers and relatives. Special thanks go to Candy Anderson, Janice and Adam Bridge, Fred and Ann Costello, Curt and Sue Ann Finley, the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco Giants, the men's group, the Mrak Hall and Student Housing "families," Sue Norris and Richard Larson, Michael Pesola, Carol Ryan, Ron Shingler, Peg Smith, the Souls softball team, the Tenth Street neighborhood, and Doug and Barbara Wilson. The Sutter Health network provided outstanding care, particularly Dr. Deepti Behl and her staff at the Sutter Cancer Center, as well as the Sutter Davis Infusion Center, Sutter General Hospital, and Sutter Hospice. No service is planned at this time. Instead, friends are invited to do something Doug enjoyed: play a game of catch, donate blood, hike, bake a batch of cookies, support a local artist, take a train trip, check out a new author, listen to music (from country and opera to Broadway and blues), and always, indulge in hard laughter, warm hugs and muchas smoochas. Those who wish to sign a guestbook online may do so at www.wiscombefuneral.com. Over time, Doug's ashes will be distributed in favorite bodies of water, including Jackass Creek (Lost Coast), Ross Creek (Springhill, Montana), Salmon Creek (Bodega Bay), Rock Creek (eastern Sierras), Lover's Point (Pacific Grove), and McCovey Cove (AT&T Park). If you wish to make a donation in Doug's memory, please consider contributing to a favorite charity of his, perhaps the California State Parks Foundation, Sutter Care at Home, or the Yolo County Food Bank. Doug was curious about almost everything, and often said that life was grand. He will be in our hearts and minds every day. In heaven it is always autumn. The leaves are always near to falling there but never fall, and pairs of souls out walking heaven's paths no longer feel the weight of years upon them. Safe in heaven's calm, they take each other's arm, the light shining through them, all joy and terror gone. We go on, you leading the way... My friend, you have led me farther than I have ever been. To a garden in autumn. To a heaven of impermanence where the final falling off is slow, a slow and radiant happening. The light is gold. And while we're here, I think it must be heaven. "In Heaven It Is Always Autumn" by Elizabeth Spires


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