GURNEE, ILLINOIS — The Gurnee community and those who knew Ryan Scanlon are mourning a deeply painful loss, as friends and loved ones remember the young baseball player for his personality, kindness, loyalty and the impact he had on the people closest to him.
Scanlon, a native of Gurnee, Illinois, was a standout baseball player who attended Warren Township High School before continuing his collegiate career at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Carthage's 2025 roster lists Scanlon as a graduate pitcher from Gurnee and a Warren Township graduate.
His accomplishments on the baseball field were significant. In May 2025, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin named Scanlon its Pitcher of the Year after a strong season for the Carthage Firebirds. The conference reported that he went 4-0 in CCIW play, recorded 42 strikeouts and posted a 2.21 earned-run average overall.
But for the people closest to him, Scanlon was remembered as much more than an athlete.
A Life Remembered Through Love
A heartbreaking tribute attributed to a loved one describes Scanlon as a best friend, source of support and someone who brought happiness to the people around him.
The message begins with the words, “Oh my sweet Ryan…”, before describing the overwhelming pain of losing someone who was considered a life partner, best friend and rock.
The tribute recalls his ability to make people laugh and to know what to say when someone needed support. It also describes Ryan as someone with tremendous love to give and as a person whose presence could brighten an entire room.
The writer reflected on the future they had imagined together, saying they had made big plans for their lives and expressing gratitude for the time they were able to share.
“You are my biggest blessing in life,” the tribute says, capturing the depth of the relationship and the sense of loss following his passing.
Remembered for His Personality
Beyond his accomplishments as a baseball player, Scanlon's tribute emphasizes the qualities that made him meaningful to those around him.
He is remembered as kind, supportive, funny and deeply loved. The person writing the tribute described him as someone who could make her laugh and who consistently knew the right thing to say.
The message also reflects the breadth of the loss, saying that everyone who knew Ryan loved him and that he was capable of lighting up a room wherever he went.
For his family, friends, teammates and loved ones, those memories are likely to remain an important part of his legacy.
Ryan Scanlon and Baseball
Baseball was a major part of Scanlon's life.
According to the CCIW, Scanlon played for Carthage as a left-handed pitcher and had an especially successful 2025 campaign. He appeared in 36.2 innings, including five starts, and struck out 42 batters. Opposing hitters posted a .221 batting average against him in conference play.
One of his notable performances came on April 30, 2025, when he struck out 11 batters over eight innings in Carthage's 4-0 shutout of North Central.
His recognition as CCIW Pitcher of the Year placed him among the conference's leading collegiate pitchers that season.
For those who knew him through baseball, his legacy is therefore connected not only to his statistics and awards but also to the memories created with teammates and the people who watched him play.
A Final Tribute
The tribute to Ryan ends with a deeply personal image connecting him to two of the things he loved: baseball and the Chicago Bears.
“I hope you’re up there throwing baseballs and rooting for the bears,” the writer said.
She then echoed a familiar affirmation:
“You is kind.
You is smart.
You is important.”
The message concludes with an expression of enduring love and the hope that they will meet again someday.
Cause of Death
At the time of publication, the cause of Ryan Scanlon's death has not been independently confirmed by an authoritative public source located in our search.
Although searches of publicly available obituary listings and local funeral-home information were conducted, I could not locate a verified obituary for Ryan Scanlon establishing a date of death or cause of death. Current Gurnee obituary listings reviewed did not provide confirmation of his death.
For that reason, claims about how Ryan died should be treated cautiously unless they are confirmed by his family, an official obituary, funeral home, law enforcement or another authoritative source.
Remembering Ryan
Ryan Scanlon's baseball career demonstrates the dedication and ability he brought to the sport, while the words shared by his loved one provide a more personal glimpse into the person behind the athlete.
He was a Gurnee native, a Warren Township graduate, a Carthage baseball pitcher and a conference award winner. More importantly to those closest to him, he was a friend, partner, supporter and someone whose absence has left an enormous void.
His loved one's final words capture the sentiment at the heart of the tribute: Ryan was deeply loved, and the memories of the life they shared will continue.
May Ryan Scanlon's memory live on through his family, friends, teammates and everyone whose life he touched.
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