Ryan Benke

Birth date: Jul 21, 2004 Death date: May 29, 2026

Ryan Julius Benke, age 21, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on May 29, 2026. Born on July 21, 2004, in Orlando, Florida, Ryan brought light, laughter, and love to all who knew him. Ryan will be remembered as a kind, empathet Read Obituary

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Trinity Memorial Gardens

12609 Memorial Dr., Trinity FL 34655

(727) 203-4055

Jenna Bellagamba

2w ago

happy heavenly birthday benke
I’ve been thinking about you a lot recently and how your birthday was coming up soon. Just now I found myself sitting in my car looking at your obituary card and I thought wow it’s so damn close to the 21st, looked at the date today and it’s today…
I haven’t made my tribute post yet so I think this was my sign it’s time:
As said by every single person that knew him, Ryan was the coolest and most genuine person out there. We had homeroom together for about six years and in middle school ryan would always take my phone and was constantly goofing around in the best way. As we got older, I didn’t have as many classes with him and in high school, the big group still found time to see each other, but I wish I found more time with Ryan. His spirit, attitude and view on life lit up every room he walked into. In high school, Benke and Bellagamba sat next to each other in homeroom so by all means I still got to see Ryan, just not as much as I would’ve liked. I find so many pictures of him at my house for parties I used to host and I don’t think I realized how valuable that time was back then. Senior year we had a project together for English class with Kevin and Cherry and we did a skit on the Kardashians. Ryan played Pete Davidson in a few scenes and Caitlin Jenner in a few others. Getting to do this project with him and the boys so fun because we hadn’t hung out like that in years. While working on the project, Ryan was the same goofy, fun, and kind person he was when we were kids. 4 years after high school, he had only become better. I remember I got to see him when he came into town last year at some club with the boys. He truly was the life of the party. I know there’s a huge party going on in heaven for him today and I can’t wait to see him again.

To Ryan’s family, I can’t imagine the loss that you are still experiencing. Thank you for bringing such an awesome person into our lives. Attending the services and seeing everyone from high school was so surreal. When I found out about Ryan’s accident, I was out of town and wasn’t supposed to be back until after the services. I changed my flight just to come home and attend. So many people dropped everything to be there. We never would’ve came together the way that we did if it wasn’t for Ryan. He truly was a light and continues to be a light in all of our lives. He made such a profound impact on everyone he met and his positive influence on those around him could never be ignored or forgotten. He was one of a kind.

love you Ryan Happy Birthday🩵

John Post

5w ago

There are some people you know for years, and there are others you meet only a handful of times who somehow leave an impression that lasts just as long. Ryan was one of those people.

I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Ryan deeply, but I was fortunate enough to spend time with him at his Omi’s (Barbara Benke’s) home on several occasions. Every time I saw him, he had a way of making everyone around him feel comfortable. He shared stories with me about the Air Force and life in rural Arkansas. He always spoke of his dog and his love for all animals. That was something we shared, along with his Omi. He would show me pictures of planes, his friends, and tell me about his future plans. This young man always had a plan. The last one I recall was heading to San Diego, California, to serve in the Air Force Reserve after his four years of service in Arkansas.

He carried himself with a kindness and sincerity that was impossible to miss. He was, without a doubt, an old soul whose kindness and wisdom far exceeded his years. He had a warmth that drew people in and a light that seemed to shine even during life’s darkest moments.

One thing I’ll always remember is how much he wanted to know about his grandfather, Julius Benke, whom he didn’t have the privilege of knowing due to his passing before Ryan was born. He would ask me questions about him, and while all I could offer were childhood memories of Mr. Benke, the wonderful man he was, and the deli he owned in New York. No matter what my father or I ordered, the price was always “five bucks,” delivered in his deep Hungarian accent. Most of the time, the order was worth much more, but that was simply the kind and generous man Julius was.

I could see how much those stories meant to Ryan. That spoke volumes about the kind of young man he was. He cared so deeply about his family, their history, and the people who came before him.

Ryan and I also shared an appreciation for Barbara’s cooking, especially when she made pork filets with mashed potatoes. It may seem like a simple memory, but it’s one I’ll always smile about. It reminds me of the warmth of Omi’s home, the love she poured into every meal, and how those moments brought family and friends together.

Although my time with Ryan was limited, I walked away each time feeling like I had known him much longer. That’s a rare gift. His genuine heart, gentle spirit, and caring nature made that kind of impression.

Barbara has been, and always will be, a dear friend to me. As she would tell you, “She knew me before I knew me.” I grew up in New York, and she always shared her in-ground pool with me, my older brother, and my sister. She put a ladder near the gate between our backyards so we could simply climb over without the need to try to climb the fence. We went to parties and any festivities her and Julius were having. We weren’t just neighbors, we were family.

My heart breaks for Barbara, for Eric and Robin, for Pam, and for everyone who loved and truly cared for Ryan. There are simply no words that can make sense of a loss like this. It’s unfathomable. It’s a tragedy that can never be explained. My hope is that, in time, the overwhelming pain will give way to cherished memories, and that Barbara will find comfort in believing Ryan has been reunited with his beloved Grandpa Julius, a grandfather he so deeply admired and longed to know.

Ryan’s life, though far too short, touched more people than he probably ever realized. I feel fortunate to have known him, and I will always remember his kindness, his warmth, the smile that greeted me whenever I walked through the door at his Omi’s house, and the genuine person he was.

May Ryan’s memory forever be a blessing, and may he watch over all his friends and family who cared so deeply for him.

R.I.P. Ryan, forever remembered.🕊️🤍

Beth Edwards

7w ago

We knew Ryan through lacrosse. We loved how Ryan always wanted to be a motivator - to be a person who helped keep his team fired up, regardless of the circumstances. The most infamous "BENKE!" moment was the nose incident. We were at a tournament, and they boys were "warming up" (aka showing off) before a game. Ryan did a beautiful shot at the net, but unfortunately it hit the post, flew back in his direction, and hit him right in the face. There was a LOT of blood, all over his face and his jersey. I remember that Eric was there but Pam wasn't, and all of the moms were like "Eric - you HAVE TO CALL HER!" Ryan was fine after some ice, and the dads on the field were encouraging him to wear the bloody jersey in the game. "It would be so bad-ass!" they all said. Ryan was having NONE OF IT. His hair was good, and there was no way her was going to wear a bloody jersey. Smart, kind, talented, and great hair, but NO WAY was he a "bloody clothes" kind of guy!
- The Edwards Family

Oslow Odegaard

7w ago

It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces last weekend. It was also great to share so many hugs and conversations with people I had never met before. Thank you to Ryan’s family for being so welcoming. You all have a beautiful family. Being around so many people Ryan loved made it feel like he was right there with us.

It was especially meaningful to speak with so many of his cousins. Apparently, a lot of you had heard about me beforehand! Thank you guys for reminding me of another memory of Ryan:

Ryan and I both experienced our parents’ divorces when we were younger. Because of that, there were certain conversations we could have with each other that I could not really have with anyone else. Not because other people did not care, but because Ryan had a deep desire to relate to people genuinely.

When I was 15 or 16, my mom was close to moving my sisters and me away to live with a new partner. That would have meant changing schools, making new friends, and leaving behind the community I had grown up in since pre-K. I felt like I was about to lose everything, and I desperately wanted to stay in Lutz.

Ryan, above anyone else, advocated for me. I remember Ms. Pam seriously considering letting me use their address so I could remain zoned for Steinbrenner, and even stay at their house for a while. Their home in Heritage Harbor had a nice guest room, after all. I still cannot believe that was a real conversation, and that so many of you had heard about it.

I never asked Ryan to do any of that. He just saw what I was going through and treated me like family. Like always, he went above and beyond for someone he cared about. So when people thanked me last weekend for writing or speaking about him, all I could think was that it was the least I could do for someone who was willing to go that far for me.

Looking around last weekend, I realized Ryan’s family and mine were pretty similar. Both Colombian, both with mostly girl cousins around our age, and both the kind of family that makes you feel welcomed even if they just met you. As someone who also grew up in a family surrounded by women, Ryan was a brother to me.

That is a brotherhood nobody will ever take away from us. I will try to carry that forward for my friends, because I know Ryan would have done the same for me.

Here are a few photos of the boys together last weekend. Seeing everyone in one place reminded me how many people loved Ryan, and that none of us are dealing with the grief alone.

Ozzy

Jaysa Vega

7w ago

Dear Ryan (and his family and friends),
I’ve known Ryan since he was in elementary school. We did Karate together at Cheval and I remember he hated being paired up with me but we were the same size so we always did. My mom admittedly didn’t like that I was sparring with a boy, especially one my age but truthfully I enjoyed it. Ryan always smelled good! And I thought he was cute, for a 10 year old. After that I saw Ryan again in middle school. We had a couple classes together, but we sat apart because our last names were on opposite ends of the roster. No biggie. He never let space dictate how he was going to behave. With a quick joke or witty comment about the lecture, Ryan never failed to make the entire class laugh. Come 8th grade Ryan and I had spanish class together. Our teacher hated our class period because we were so loud and got the worst grades. And yet it was my favorite class of the day. In spanish hamburger is “hamburgesa”. Ryan made a note to point out that “Hamburgesa sounds like the name, Jaysa. Hey wait, HamburJaysa! That’s so funny!” The entire class agreed. Exploding in laughter at my expense. Even our teacher starter using it. And there it was; a nickname that would carry me through the rest of middle school and into high school: Where Ryan and I would barely interact. Only ever see each other in passing. Never to say another word to each other again.

When I heard about Ryan’s passing. I started sobbing. Not because we were so close, or because we shared so many memories together. We weren’t even friends! But because it was the first time I felt loss that was so close, yet so far. I didn’t know what Ryan’s house looked like. I barely knew his hobbies. But I sat next to him. I shared laughs with him. We walked the same halls and even the same stage at graduation. Everyone knew Ryan Benke. And everyone feels his death like a pit in our stomachs. Ryan will be missed by even those who knew very little about him. He was always a light and a clever character.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends. I know you’ll see each other again. And he’ll be ready with an open embrace and a generous smile that will light up the room.

Rest in peace.
Signed,
Jaysa (Hamburjaysa) Vega

Paulina Munoz-Dowdy

7w ago

yesterday and today we said see ya later to you, Ry. i was a bit flustered yesterday when raqui and i spoke but i do have some more things to say that i wish i said. so im gonna put it here.

Ryan, you've always been the life of the party. i remember in colombia, raqui and i swinging you in our arms bec you said you had a charley horse and couldn't walk....for like 15 minutes lol. i do have a beautiful wife so i remember when i came out to the family and you said, "i don't really care, i still love you" and kept it moving. that reaction was a blessing and it's truly all i needed to hear at that moment. you don't know how much that meant to me. i will always remember grabbing you by the neck and guiding you to where we needed to go. and you always complained about it lol but you still let me do it. bec that's the person you are. you love hard and you love seeing the people you love be happy, even if it meant your older sister/cousin annoying you lol. even though we are cousins, you're my brother, Ryan, and i love you like one and i hope you loved me like a sister. i remember you texting me a while ago that you wanted to call me just to say hi bec you were thinking of me. and you did and we talked for a while just catching up. and i will cherish that memory forever. i wish we had more time together. i wish i could've seen you more. i wish you were here to meet my wife and i's future family. i wish you were here to continue seeing raelynn and emilia grow. i wish you were here to see your mom and dad grow old like it's supposed to be. this is the most unimaginable thing that could happen to us. and it's the hardest and most painful thing i've ever experienced. but i hope you know you were so loved by so many people. i hope you know how much love and light and laughter you brought to so many people. your legacy will live on forever through all of us. i'm gonna miss you so much and figuring out how to move forward without you will be hard. but we have a pretty cool family and pretty cool friends, and their love and support will get us all through this. i love you forever and ever, Ryan. -Pauli

Paul Liotine

7w ago

I went to middle school and Highschool with Ryan, admittedly I did not know the guy a whole lot, but my friends and brother were on the lacrosse team so I saw him a-lot. I went through a real awkward time in high school, however Ryan was always really kind to me, when I talked to him he never made me feel weird and was really supportive of the things I liked. He had this ability to make me feel like I was there. He’s got a high seat in heaven for sure. Rest in power Benke.

Brian Vining

8w ago

Dear Ryan,

You were one of the most genuine and caring people I was ever blessed to call a friend. We first crossed paths at McKitrick, and I always found it funny that even though we knew each other from such a young age, it wasn’t until middle school that we built a true friendship.

Whenever I think back on our memories together, I’m always brought back to our senior scavenger hunt team. Beyond laughing so hard I could barely breathe, I remember how that night you helped me realize how insignificant it is to worry about what random people think. When I think about you, I think about how deeply you loved your family and friends. More than that, you taught me that being consumed by the opinions of strangers is such a small thing when none of us are even promised tomorrow. After that night, my perspective changed, and I can never thank you enough for that.

Besides that, I was also always in awe of how your humor and overall personality could make anyone smile and forget about their problems for a little while. Back during our senior year we had TA class together and during my senior year I was always so stressed in that class because of my prior classes and overall stress of grades and looking into colleges however, as soon as I would walk into that class and see your grin I always knew all those stresses would be put to the side for some time since that grin meant you were about to try and convince me for a whole class period on why the worst most one sided fantasy football trade could benefit both of us and I can’t lie sometimes you were pretty convincing but not convincing enough.

Every day I hope to open the group chat and go through 10 videos of you cracking jokes or making fun of all of us since we are wasting our Saturdays inside when we could go out and make some memories. Which hurts so bad knowing you aren’t here anymore to send those videos, but I promise we will all keep your memory alive through the stories and videos we all share.

I love you Benke and I want to thank you for being such a great friend and man there truly will never be another Ryan Benke, I am so blessed to have found you and all our friends.

Until we meet again my friend.

Brian

Griffeys Family

8w ago

Sent an Angel's Embrace Bouquet to the Benke family.

A bouquet of flowers with an angel figurine

Send flowers

Anonymous

8w ago

Sent an Angel's Embrace Bouquet to the Benke family.

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CARED FOR BY

Trinity Memorial Gardens

12609 Memorial Dr., Trinity FL 34655

(727) 203-4055

John Post

5w ago

There are some people you know for years, and there are others you meet only a handful of times who somehow leave an impression that lasts just as long. Ryan was one of those people.

I could see how much those stories meant to Ryan. That spoke volumes about the kind of young man he was. He cared so deeply about his family, their history, and the people who came before him.

May Ryan’s memory forever be a blessing, and may he watch over all his friends and family who cared so deeply for him.

R.I.P. Ryan, forever remembered.🕊️🤍

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