Ryan Kestranek, a 19-year-old graduate of Strongsville High School in Ohio, was fatally shot, sending shockwaves through his family and the community that watched him grow up.
The young man, who played varsity football for the Strongsville Mustangs as a defensive end and guard, was remembered by those closest to him as someone who carried a rare kind of warmth that touched everyone he met.
His sister Makayli was the one who stepped forward to share the news publicly, creating a GoFundMe page to help the family navigate the financial weight that follows a sudden and traumatic loss.
In her words, Ryan was the baby of the family, someone who made people feel genuinely heard and valued. She described him as smart, gentle, and full of ambition for his future. None of those dreams would get the chance to unfold.
Ryan stood at 5 feet 11 inches and weighed 220 pounds during his time on the football field at Strongsville High School, where he was added to the varsity roster in September 2024. He graduated with the class of 2025.
To his teammates and coaches, he was a physical and dedicated player. To his family, he was simply Sonny, the nickname his mother gave him as her one and only son.
A Mother Left to Grieve the Loss of Her Only Son
The emotional center of this tragedy is Ryan’s mother, who now faces unthinkable grief alongside her two daughters. Makayli described the bond between Ryan and their mother as something that words could hardly capture.
He adored her, and she poured her love into him every single day of his life. The fundraiser was created specifically with her in mind, hoping to ease the pressure of funeral costs and daily expenses so she can focus on healing rather than financial survival.
Family friend Stephanie Rawashdeh, who knew Ryan since he was three years old, spoke about what kind of child and young man he was. She described him as someone who would have taken on the world to protect his mother and sisters.
Rawashdeh also pointed out that this family has already endured serious hardship before, referencing a life-threatening situation involving Ryan’s mother nearly 16 years ago that the family barely survived.
The GoFundMe campaign has already gathered close to $4,875 from 82 donors, working toward a $10,000 goal. Donations have come pouring in from friends, former classmates, and strangers who were moved by the story.
Ryan Kestranek deserved decades more of life. His family is now left holding memories where a future should have been.
