Ryan Howard Assunto was welcomed into the arms of his Savior after a sudden and unexpected medical event following a run on September 15th. Ryan's love for the Lord, incredible care for his family and friends, wise leadership, generosity, and spirit of hospitality were obvious to all who knew him.

Ryan was born in Beaumont, Texas to Laura and Frank Assunto and grew up alongside his older brother, Trey. Ryan's love for people and for the things that brought him joy took root in his childhood. He learned to love golf because of his dad and spent countless hours fishing and hunting with his brother. His love of music may have started even earlier, as his mom listened to James Taylor through headphones placed on her stomach while pregnant with him. He practically came into the world singing "Shower the People." As a boy and teen, he played baseball and had success as a left-handed pitcher through high school. More than any particular hobby, though, Ryan enjoyed simply being with the people he loved.

Ryan's family extended much further, including 24 aunts and uncles and 34 first cousins. They sought out any reason to get together: Christmas at 1008 Kirby, the annual "Chill in" and "Pile in", Iron Chef competitions, grandson weekends, over 35 years of Panama City Beach trips, and many other spontaneous hangouts. Family gatherings were the foundation of his childhood, and these relationships extended into adulthood. Allison joked that anyone he befriended later in life was treated like a cousin because that's how he grew up. If you were in his presence, you were Ryan's favorite person in the world.

Ryan proudly graduated with the Texas Aggie Class of 1998, earning a degree in Speech Communications. During his time in Aggieland, Ryan's relationship with the Lord deepened through friendships he made in Brothers Under Christ, where he served as Chaplain and as the first Breakaway Ministries intern. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Ryan's desire to minister to others led him to serve for almost a year in Guatemala with Food for the Hungry. Upon returning, he began work on his Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 2002.

Ryan was faithful to the Lord's calling on his life, which led him on an unconventional career path that perfectly prepared him for his eventual dream job. He began as a Christian counselor focused on guiding teenagers and young adults and as Executive Director of FreeWay Ministries, where he led a growing college ministry at The University of Texas. He then spent many years working alongside his father-in-law in the family business. He finished his career as President of the National Christian Foundation Austin, where he lived out his calling by building a local community of clients and colleagues to share in the ministry of generosity. Ryan's work was more than a career; he truly loved and poured his heart into it.

In June 2004, Ryan met his future wife, Allison, through a new members class at their church. As the story goes, Ryan prayed on his way that he would not be distracted by any girls, so he blew her off when she saw his Aggie ring and asked when he had graduated, but he couldn't ignore her for long. On March 10, 2007, they married in Houston, Texas. Ryan cherished Allison. They were best friends and true partners who did life side by side. They had the unique gift of working together over the last 5 years, sharing their days as they served a common purpose. Ryan and Allison genuinely enjoyed spending time together: playing pickleball and tennis, watching their kids compete in each of their many sports, and going out for date nights. After dinner at home, they could often be found outside in the driveway eating dessert and playing with the kids. Most evenings ended with them on the couch, debriefing the day.

Allison and Ryan were blessed with three children, the joy of their lives, Blythe, Carter, and Grace. Of all the roles Ryan held in his life, none meant more than being their dad.

In Blythe, Ryan shared his love of people and connection. He coached her soccer team when she was little, looked forward to daddy-daughter dances and date nights. He was her most devoted audience, taking a front-row seat to her exuberant home performances of Frozen and Hamilton, years before he and Allison took Blythe to New York to celebrate her 13th birthday with a trip to see Hamilton on Broadway. More recently, they attended country music concerts and shared a passion for horses and horseback riding and ordered queso together whenever they could. Ryan served as her personal math tutor, spent quality one-on-one time teaching her how to drive, and cheered her on through several seasons of school and club volleyball. Above all, Blythe inherited Ryan's genuine love for people, and he delighted in how she built a deep, vast community around her and grew in her faith in the Lord.

Carter and Ryan were connected through their shared hobbies and sports, with equal enthusiasm for the gear that came with it. They spent many hours together on the driving range and golf course, including several tournaments where Ryan got to be Carter's caddy. He helped coach Carter's baseball teams, and since Ryan threw batting practice for the team, both boys could often be found on the couch, icing their arms side by side after late night practices. He wrangled a group of boys as a tent parent for Blue Wave swim meets, he poured into Carter and his friends for a week as a volunteer at overnight church camp, and he had the privilege of baptizing him in a lake near their home in the summer of 2025. Ryan raised Carter as his beloved son and treasured being his teammate, friend, and brother-in-Christ.

Grace, his youngest, had Ryan wrapped around her finger from the very beginning. Their days were filled with tickle wars and giggles, and their nights often ended together on her bed, reading through the Jesus Storybook Bible. Ryan cherished watching Grace shine on stage at her dance recitals, even though she didn't particularly love the spotlight or the makeup. He treasured their daddy-daughter dances just as much, when they could take those same moves onto the dance floor together. He loved grilling her a cheeseburger, her favorite, and finding simple ways to make her happy. Ryan's helper's heart is reflected in Grace. He loved watching her notice what others needed, step in to help, and care for the people around her, the same qualities that came so naturally to him.

Ryan knew his children deeply, listened to their hearts, cheered them on, constantly reminded them that he was "in their corner" and led with godly wisdom. His fierce, unconditional love for his family was at the heart of everything he did.

As a family they made memories at Laity Lodge Family camp, Disney World, road trips to Breckenridge to escape the Texas heat, the Dixie Dude Ranch, and more. On Lynch family trips, he treasured golfing with the guys and late night games of Left Right Center around the table. He and Allison served fancy Valentine's Day dinners to the kids at home, cheered for the Astros nightly on TV, welcomed the neighborhood kids as their own, and loved on their yellow labs Bella and Breck.

Ryan enjoyed the camaraderie in his close-knit "B Dub" neighborhood community. He formed deep relationships through his 'Cue Crew' cookouts, Blue Wave swim team, his newly formed men's group, "Spirits and Truth," summer nights at the pool and park, camping trips, special vacations with couples and families, and as the neighborhood board president.

Ryan's faith shined through in his service to his community. For ten years, he and Allison hosted a weekly community group in their home, creating a place for people to deepen their faith through life together. That same willingness to open their home and their lives led Ryan and Allison to foster a toddler for a year, an experience that continued to bless them immensely. Ryan was a devoted member of Grace Covenant Church, where he served as an elder; it brought him great joy to care for and encourage a church community he loved very much. It is no surprise that his final act of service at church was serving communion to his brothers and sisters in Christ alongside Allison.

Ryan's absence will be palpable for his family, church, and community. But his legacy will carry on through those he dearly loved. He was surely welcomed into Heaven with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Ryan is survived by his wife, Allison, and his three children, Blythe Easley, Carter Daigle, and Grace Kathryn Assunto; his mother, Laura Daigle Assunto; brother Trey Assunto, his wife, Joy, and their children, Levi and Lizzie; mother-in-law Sandy Lynch; brother-in-law Greg Lynch and his wife Regina; and many adoring Daigle and Assunto aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Ryan is preceded in death by his father, Frank Fred Assunto, Jr.; father-in-law Richard O'Neal Lynch; paternal grandparents Frank Sr. and Pauline Parsley Assunto; and maternal grandparents Howard and Edna Guillory Daigle.

A memorial service will be held on October 1st at 10:30 AM at Grace Covenant Church in Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Ryan's generous heart, please consider donating to a charity of your choice in his memory.