As you can see, Ryan developed his love of food very early on in life.  Although a life-long vegetarian (which makes reception planning fun, of course), he tends to stay away from anything green and leafy, preferring to focus on starches and sweets.  If you can combine them, even better!

Growing up as an only child, Ryan received tons of attention from his loving parents—too much at times, as this photo illustrates.  (Although he feels that sharing his father’s mustache with the world is payback enough!)

Ryan’s parents have always held high aspirations for him.  His dad was convinced that Ryan would become the next great American writer, but it was not to be.

Nevertheless, Ryan’s parents went well beyond the call of duty time and time again, even founding a school (Sycamore School link) that has grown and thrived beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.  At right you can see Ryan with his mother on his first day of school

One of the highlights of summer as a child was the visit to his grandparents’ house on Lake Skaneateles in upstate New York.  Here is Ryan with his parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles and many cousins.

Although Ryan played several sports as a child, he focused primarily on soccer as a teenager, dragging his parents around the Midwest for tournaments and to the doctor for repeated ankle injuries.  This picture shows Ryan with his parents before a game for Park Tudor, the high school he attended.

Ryan with his grandparents in New York early in college