ForeverMissed
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Ryan Jeremy Scharf, 37, departed on May 19, 2021, at his home in Lake Forest, California. Ryan attended West Morris Central High School in Long Valley, New Jersey, and always shared fond memories of his time with friends growing up. Shortly after high school, Ryan relocated to Orange County, California, where he worked in various fields while completing his BA in Psychology at California State University-Fullerton. Most recently, Ryan was an OSHA- authorized safety manager for a pipeline company in southern California.

Ryan is known for his kindness, his sarcastic dry humor, and his intellectual approach to life. He enjoyed the outdoors from hiking to snowboarding and had a great appreciation for a good “cheat meal.” Ryan was passionate about staying connected to his family and friends despite the distance and stayed in close touch with his mom and sister in New Jersey, his dad in Colorado and his many friends around the country. Ryan was most devoted to his son Salvador (Sal). Ryan held Salvador in the highest regard and Sal is undoubtedly Ryan’s most precious achievement in life.

Ryan is survived by his son Salvador Scharf (Celina Mojica, Sal’s mother), his mother, Meredith Stilger, his father, Steven Scharf and his sister and her husband, Lindsey and Adam Champagne and their children Nicholas and Jackson, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who all loved him dearly.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association—a non-profit near to Ryan’s heart after losing two grandparents to the disease.

This site has been created to keep Ryan's memory alive as a wonderful son, and even better brother, and a kind friend to so many.

June 28, 2023
June 28, 2023
My precious Ryan. My goodness 40! years old. I hope that you are enjoying a heavenly journey with our relatives up there with you and Jesus. I know that you are at peace now my special angel. I love you.
May 22, 2022
May 22, 2022
It’s so hard to believe it’s been a year since you left. There isn’t a day that goes by that your aren’t on my mind. I miss our daily texts, FaceTimes, ridiculous memes and GIFs. I miss my best friend and the understanding and comfort that only a sibling can provide. A huge void that can’t be filled by anyone other than a big brother.

People love saying that time heals and makes it easier, but it doesn’t make it easier, you just learn to live with the loss.

I’ve spent the last twelve months trying to rebuild my whole world as I know it. The grief, I’ve learned, is all the unexpressed love I still have to give that no longer has a home. But I think if your grief is big, your heart is big, so I’m OK with that.

It was such a blessing to have you in my life for 36 years. See you on the other side of the stars.
June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021
Lastly, and above all Ryan, I hope that you have found peace and that you are no longer suffering.
Mom
June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021
My dearest precious son, you decided to leave this earth unannounced and without any warning, You shocked all of us here on earth.
My heart is broken as I thought the past year had proven the happiest for you in many years.
Today is your 38th birthday and I hope and pray that you are celebrating in heaven with all of our family.
I will love you forever and always and forever my special son you will always be.
HAPPY 38 my blessed Ryan!
Keep them all laughing up in heaven as you did all of us down here, you are an incredible person........until we meet again.
Mom
June 22, 2021
June 22, 2021
Dearest Family and Friends of Ryan Scharf,

It’s been a few weeks since we lost this bright light and I have been thinking back on all the wonderful memories that I have been blessed with. I met Ryan in the mid-2000’s when he first came out to Southern California. Through mutual acquaintances I was told that there is this “dude from Jersey” who I should meet; described as a funny and VERY sarcastic. My two favorite things in life. We became friends instantly and eventually coworkers. Ryan was always there to listen, remind me of my purpose, make me laugh, and tie it up with a big bear hug. As life began to bridge us in different directions we remained in contact. Before Sal was born I had the honor and privilege to adopt their cats, Jack and Eddie. Ryan drove 7 hours to bring me those two fluffs and to be there for him while saying goodbye will always bring warmth to my heart. I am blessed that they chose me to take care of their cats 9-ish years ago and thankful that I still have a small piece of him with me.
Thank you, Ryan. You changed my life and I will never forget it.
Love you,
Mama Grace
May 24, 2021
May 24, 2021
Ry,
Just like on fb I’ve written and rewritten my feelings and memories of you. To be honest I can’t look back and pick one thing that stands out or one memory. I just loved YOU so much. You were my best friend- someone I counted on and was always here for me (I’d like to think and I hope I was for you)! Your funny jokes and impersonations I still hear vividly in my head. The past couple days have hurt because I know a lot of our inside jokes now only live on in my head (that’s ok I’ll look a little crazy laughing to myself hahah)! I still can’t believe this is true or that I’m writing this, but I have to say how truly blessed I am to have known you and call you my friend. You are the first close friend of mine to have passed, and now I know unfortunately, what the empty space feels like in my heart. I hope and pray you are at peace and know you are watching over us all. Until the day we meet again my friend....rest in peace
May 23, 2021
May 23, 2021
I am Ryan's Aunt Cindy. Words can not adequately express the love and pride I have for him. He was a wonderful Father and Nephew. I am blessed and honored to say that he and I were very close and communicated on a regular basis. He often referred to me as his second Mom which I took as the ultimate compliment and much joy in because we had a special bond.. I have such fond memories of him from the day he was born and all of the years thereafter. I have many messages, videos of him and Sal, Emails as well as other written correspondence that I cherish and will live in my heart forever. Until we meet again dear Ry, I will love you forever.
May 23, 2021
May 23, 2021
I am Ryan’s cousin. Ryan was always so cool to me growing up surrounded by sisters and female cousins. He always made time to play with me whether it was video games or wrestling, often ending in me crying because I was 4 and he was 13...I’ll always remember how much attention he gave me the week after my mom died. As we got older and he moved away I would see him less, but he always reached out to check in on what was happening in my life. I will miss him and hope he’s eating a big meal somewhere with grandma and grandpa
May 23, 2021
May 23, 2021
I am Ryan's uncle. It's so hard trying to say something about Ryan so close to his passing, without feeling terrible sadness and anger. I have looked at photographs of Ryan and Lindsey and my children, as well as pictures of Ryan with friends, with Meredith and Steven and with Sal. I have also seen so many friends on facebook express their sadness at losing a friend. And i am left to ask myself how did this happen? I wish that Ryan could have seen how many people cared about him and that that caring would have helped to conquer the demons that plagued him. But sadly and tragically, that will never happen. My initial feeling after the shock of learning about Ryan was that i wanted to hug my children and my grandchildren and to protect them from the horrors of this world. We will really miss you Ryan, and if there is a heaven (who really knows????) i hope you are hanging out with family and friends and telling funny stories and feeling no pain or sadness.You will be missed.
May 22, 2021
May 22, 2021
Ryan was my oldest cousin. He grew up just down the road from us, until he was in middle school. We were so lucky to have cousins close in age to us nearby when we were little. We spent so many early holidays together and spent most of the evenings playing in the basement and being loud. He was missed terribly when he moved across the country. I am devastated that he never got to meet my daughter. Some of my last messages with Ryan were talking about parenthood and about Caroline and Sal. He loved Sal so much and was so proud of him. We miss you and will always love you Ryan.
May 22, 2021
May 22, 2021
I had the privilege of calling Ryan my brother in law and I am forever grateful to have had in my life. His love for his son & his family was unmeasurable and showed how good his heart was. His sense of humor, especially toward his sister, had me in stitches more than a few times. I will dearly miss him. Ryan, my brother, Rest In Peace
May 22, 2021
May 22, 2021
As one of Ryan’s aunts, I had the privilege of knowing him his whole life-from beautiful baby, to Nintendo-loving child, to seemingly quiet, but wickedly smart and funny teenager, to loving husband, to ultra devoted father, and a man who believed in and honored God. One of my happiest memories was Meredith telling me she was pregnant with Ryan. He was curious, interested, with a tender heart and always cared for and made others feel special. He will forever be missed!

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Recent Tributes
June 28, 2023
June 28, 2023
My precious Ryan. My goodness 40! years old. I hope that you are enjoying a heavenly journey with our relatives up there with you and Jesus. I know that you are at peace now my special angel. I love you.
May 22, 2022
May 22, 2022
It’s so hard to believe it’s been a year since you left. There isn’t a day that goes by that your aren’t on my mind. I miss our daily texts, FaceTimes, ridiculous memes and GIFs. I miss my best friend and the understanding and comfort that only a sibling can provide. A huge void that can’t be filled by anyone other than a big brother.

People love saying that time heals and makes it easier, but it doesn’t make it easier, you just learn to live with the loss.

I’ve spent the last twelve months trying to rebuild my whole world as I know it. The grief, I’ve learned, is all the unexpressed love I still have to give that no longer has a home. But I think if your grief is big, your heart is big, so I’m OK with that.

It was such a blessing to have you in my life for 36 years. See you on the other side of the stars.
June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021
Lastly, and above all Ryan, I hope that you have found peace and that you are no longer suffering.
Mom
Recent stories

Birthday

June 29, 2021
Yesterday was your 38th birthday. You spent it in heaven and I hope it was wonderful. I shared the attached photo on Instagram in honor of your birthday. It's a photo of us at In n Out on one of my trips out to California. Every time I came to CA I made a big deal about getting In n Out. I feel like in the beginning you were fine with it-- but as the years went on, you were like "really Linz?"
On the particular day that the photo was taken, neither you or mom had any interest in going to In n Out but I made a pretty big deal about it so we ended up going. In the picture, I look very happy to be with my brother in CA and getting my beloved In n Out and you look very handsome and you're smiling-- but I also think you're secretly thinking in your head "I am here against my will but my little sister really wanted to come so here we are."

Thanks for always showing up for me big bro. Love you and happy birthday.
May 22, 2021
To the guy who always kept me laughing and the only person I know who did a photo shoot with Devil Dogs

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