CV NEWS FEED // The mother of the young Catholic volunteer who was murdered in Washington, D.C. in January shared recently that in receiving cards from all over the country, it is evident that her son’s life of service and love continues to touch many lives.
Twenty-three year-old Ryan Realbuto was a volunteer with the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps in D.C. and was placed at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, serving at-risk students through a work-study program.
He was halfway through his first year as a volunteer when he tragically lost his life. On January 18, Ryan was walking home from a social event and Holy Hour with two friends. As they walked through a neighborhood, a car pulled up and asked for money. When Ryan told the people in the car that they did not have money, one of the people in the car shot Ryan before driving off.
Ryan was transported to a hospital and died early the next morning. The recording of his funeral has been viewed more than 2,700 times.
Within days of Ryan’s passing, his family “began receiving notes and cards from people around the country,” according to Catholic Courier. “Not only did these people share words of condolence, but they also talked about how they’d known Ryan and how he’d touched their lives, [his mother] Janet Realbuto said.”
“Not only was Ryan a dear, loving son to us, he also extended that love to every single person that he encountered, based on all of these cards that I’m reading,” Janet told Catholic Courier.
Some of the cards “[mentioned] changes their senders have made after learning about her son, [Janet] said,” according to Catholic Courier.
“I’ve had a couple of people say to me that any time they’re thinking bad thoughts about a person, Ryan pops into their thought space, and it kind of lifts their thinking,” Janet said. “I just feel like his story is doing so much good already because so many people say, ‘Now I want to be more like Ryan. I want to help mankind.’”
Catholic Courier added that his mother shared that Ryan “loved helping others.”
Janet said that growing up, Ryan struggled with an auditory processing disorder, a chronic illness called vitiligo, and developmental delays.
Catholic Courier wrote, “The obstacles her son faced just seemed to make him more determined to work hard and be compassionate toward others facing their own challenges, Janet Realbuto said.”
Ryan volunteered three years in a row in his middle school youth group’s service program. During the weeklong program, Ryan served at Bethany House, a homeless women and children’s shelter.
After graduating high school, Ryan attended St. Bonaventure University, where he volunteered regularly at the student-run soup kitchen. He graduated in 2023.
St. Bonaventure University Director of Ministries Alice Miller Nation told Catholic Courier, “We want our students to know how to be hope and light in a world that is desperately looking for both. Ryan nailed that.”
Over 180 students at St. Bonaventure attended an on-campus vigil for Ryan, and another 170 attended virtually, Miller Nation said in talking about the impact Ryan made on his university.
Miller Nation recalled when she had an opportunity to see Ryan in October of 2023, shortly after he began volunteering in D.C.
“Joy spilled out of him as he talked about his work at Don Bosco Cristo Rey,” she said. “I believe he had found his people.”
Ryan’s aunt, Lynn Fenicchia, started a GoFundMe to help Ryan’s family cover funeral and medical expenses. Over 2,700 people have since donated.
“Ryan thrived doing any sort of community service. He was not motivated by making large sums of money, but instead found joy being able to help people in need,” his aunt wrote on the GoFundMe:
Ryan truly did have a caring heart and helping hands. He had a special concern for young people with disabilities and assisted at many Special Olympics events including the State Winter Games in Rochester…
Ryan had a gentle soul and was a kind human being filled with nothing but innocence.
His mother wrote an update post on the GoFundMe page on February 15.
“Some of you I have known for years, while some of you I have never even met,” she wrote:
Yet, your kindness and outpouring of love have provided comfort during a time that is more difficult than words can describe…
[Ryan] was at the prime of his life, doing good in the world, and living his faith. I want to thank you again for your generosity, and for taking the time to learn more about the story of Ryan and this senseless tragedy. The world has lost a beautiful soul.Let us pray together for peace and an end to this senseless violence.
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