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Obituary: Ryan Farr Hoffman

Ryan Farr Hoffman

Oct. 7, 1976 – March 24, 2019

Ryan Farr Hoffman left this earth before his time at the age of 42. He passed away peacefully at Denver Hospice on Sunday, March 24, in Denver, Colorado.

Ryan is survived by parents Jack and Sue Hoffman of Malvern, Pennsylvania, his two brothers, Andy and Mitch Hoffman, and his beloved, goofy dog and partner in crime, Finn.

Ryan was born on Oct. 7, 1976, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Malvern and went to Great Valley High School where he played football, baseball and lacrosse, and was recognized as a standout on the wrestling team. He loved hockey (and the Flyers!), skiing, camping, rafting, hiking and pretty much any activity that kept him outdoors. Ryan went on to earn a degree in construction management at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

He moved to Summit County in 1995 and began working for transportation at Keystone Resort, where he established a multitude of lifelong friendships. In pursuit of his passion for building, he began a career for Mathison Custom Builders in 2002. Ryan’s career was cut short in 2006 when he fell 11 feet from the second-floor rafters of Kylee’s Cabin at the Thank You Lord Ranch, north of Silverthorne. Ryan sustained a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed below the T7 vertebra.

This injury did not hold Ryan back for long. His sense of humor, perseverance and sometimes superhuman strength, enabled him to continue his pursuit of a happy life in the great outdoors. He excelled in sit-skiing, took Finn for walks on his adaptive mountain bike and even took up surfing. He rafted class four whitewater and traveled the world with his friends. He loved seeing live music, played guitar and started a band with his friends called The Disappointments.

Ryan left Summit County in the winter of 2012-13 to train for the Paralympics in Park City, Utah. Unfortunately, just before his move from Colorado to Utah, he sustained a severe burn on his lower back from a hot rock massage. This resulted in copious medical complications and ultimately, he ended up spending about six months receiving treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, crushing his dreams of competing in the Paralympics. He moved back to Summit County in the summer of 2013.

Ryan’s charisma, contagious smile, love for life and remarkable warrior spirit in the face of so many challenges will live on as an inspiration in the hearts of those his soul touched. In all of the good times, the hard times and the many laughs that were shared with this incredible human, he will remain.

In honor of his request, Ryan’s ashes will be spread on Loveland Pass on Sunday, April 7 around 5:30 p.m., with a potluck gathering to follow around 7 p.m. at the Kickapoo Tavern in Keystone. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ryan’s life. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to Denver Hospice at 501 S. Cherry St. Suite 700 Denver, CO 80246. Go to TheDenverHospice.org.


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