University of New Haven Community Celebrates Life and Legacy of Beloved Charger

Hundreds of Chargers gathered for a memorial celebration honoring Ryan O’Shea ’27, and the community came together again days later as the men’s club ice hockey team he was so proud to be a part of retired his #5 jersey before posting an emotional win in his honor.

As part of a campus memorial celebrating Ryan O'Shea '27, men's club ice hockey team general manager Devin Bertrand '15 shared a story from an overnight trip the team had a couple of years ago to Lake Placid, NY, for a preseason tournament.

"As the head coach at the time, I gave the guys rules about their conduct at the hotel and set a curfew. I know the word curfew does not register in their brains, but I trusted they were at least staying together and being safe. I went to bed, woke up the next morning, went downstairs to have breakfast, and here comes Ryan with his big old smile and says, 'Coach, did you hear what happened to us last night?'

"He proceeded to tell me that three of those bozos, including Ryan, were walking around the hotel floor we were on and walked into a room that they thought was occupied by our team because the door was propped open. Come to find out, that room was empty, and for good reason. The door of that room was broken and did not open once it was closed.

"While Ryan and his two teammates were standing in the dark, pulling on the door as hard as they could, they realized they couldn't get out of that room. Those three buffoons had no other option but to call the front desk and tell them what happened. The night manager at the hotel proceeded to have a ladder brought around the outside of the building so they could climb down from the second-floor window. Nobody on the team would have told me this. They all would have hidden it, but Ryan could not help making fun of his teammate and how scared he was of heights. He just saw the humor in everything and couldn't wait to share it. That was Ryan.

"I truly love Ryan. I'm going to carry the weight of this tragedy for a long, long time. I will never be able to walk into our locker room again, look at his stall, and not feel this immense loss. Please take this away from this celebration of life. Don't be afraid to tell your friends you love them. When you give your loved ones a hug, hold on to them for an extra moment."

Bertrand concluded his remarks by reading a letter he wrote to Ryan, continuing a tradition he started years ago of writing a letter to each senior in advance of their last game. "We talked a lot about family and brotherhood during your time here," Bertrand wrote in part. "I hope you understand to me that lasts forever."

'It was so effortless for Ryan to be enthusiastic and supportive of others'

The campus memorial included performances by Fully Charged, the University's a cappella group, and Bill Seward '99 A.S. '04, who knew Ryan through his work as a referee for men's club ice hockey games and performed on the bagpipes at the memorial.

A number of speakers talked about Ryan, the love he had for those around him, and the legacy he leaves behind. 

"Everything you hear about Ryan, his infectious laugh, his beautiful smile, and his ability to take charge is all true," said Conor Keaney '27, O'Shea's roommate and fraternity brother.  "It's not at all fabricated in any way. He always put others before himself. That's the kind of person he was."

"He was an awesome dude," added Mike Luzietti '29, a roommate and fraternity brother. "He was there for all of us. He loved all of us, and we're going to have to be together to get through this."

"We're going to make sure that nobody ever forgets who Ryan is," said Logan Toussaint '29, president of the men's club ice hockey team. "We're going to carry his personality, his energy, and the happiness he brought to all of us everywhere we go. Every time we step on the ice, he's going to be a part of this team. He wasn't just our teammate. He was our friend and our brother, and we're going to miss him more than words can ever explain. The impact he's had on us is endless."

"You could tell it was so effortless for Ryan to be enthusiastic and supportive of others, because that's just who he was," said Aidan Doweett '24, a former teammate and former captain of the team. "It felt like seeing someone close to him succeed was even a bigger success for him.  

"Something I'll always take away from Ryan is never be scared to pick up the phone and reach out," continued Doweett. "Even though we were three years apart, Ryan and I stayed friends, and he would sporadically call me or text me to catch up, tell me something, ask for advice, or share an old memory. Ryan had no idea what those random calls for advice or just him reaching out meant to me. He made me feel like I mattered, like I was important. And I know he had that same impact on many others around him, and that is what made him so special."

'His humanity was at the heart of who he was'

Doweett read a letter O'Shea wrote to himself as an incoming first-year student. As part of this University tradition, Chargers open this letter shortly before Commencement. The framed letter was presented to O'Shea's mother. It ended with: "Don't regret any decision that makes you who you are or the path you begin now."

During the memorial, President Jens Frederiksen announced that O'Shea would be awarded his degree in memoriam with the Class of 2027 at Commencement. He also shared that the University is establishing the Ryan O'Shea '27 Memorial Scholarship, which will support a club sport student-athlete who demonstrates the leadership, character, resilience, and commitment to others that Ryan exemplified throughout his life.

"In student life, we believe education is not only about what students accomplish, but about who they become," said Ophelie Rowe Allen, Ed.D., vice president of student affairs and dean of students. "When I think about Ryan, I'm reminded of why this question matters so much. Ryan pursued meaningful professional opportunities that reflect his dedication and ambition. But that doesn't tell the whole story.

"His legacy isn't defined by the titles he held. It's the person he was and the impact he had on those around him," continued Dr. Rowe Allen. "It's his character, his belief that others deserve to be treated well, and the relationships he built. His humanity was at the heart of who he was. Ryan's story means so much to us as a university. He reminds us that we are not only preparing students for what they will do, but also shaping who they will become."

"In athletics, the distinction of a captain is the highest honor you can receive from your teammates," said Devin Crosby, director of athletics. "It's not simply about athletic ability. It's about character. It's about putting others beyond yourself. And Ryan's character reflected the ethos of the University of New Haven, the notion of the human good. Ryan chose to put others first and he looked beyond himself. This isn't always an easy choice, but it's what sincere leadership looks like, what a captain does. And from everything I've come to learn, and we've all come to learn about Ryan, that's who he was."

The memorial concluded with the unveiling of a plaque bearing Ryan's name at the in-memoriam display next to the Charger Statue.

'Ryan clearly knew how to live'

Several days after the campus memorial and two weeks to the day of O'Shea's tragic passing, the men's club ice hockey team returned to the ice for its first game without Ryan.

In a touching pregame ceremony on Friday night, the team retired O'Shea's #5 jersey. The team's leaders presented O'Shea's family with his number 5 jersey. The Chargers' opponent, Wentworth Institute of Technology, also presented a #5 jersey to Ryan's loved ones.

Ryan was introduced as part of the starting lineup, and the first five seconds of the game took place with four Chargers on the ice.

The team scored on its fifth shot of the game and went on to post a thrilling 7-5 victory, with the game-winner scored late in the third period. Hundreds of fans cheered on the team.

"It's hard not to be struck by the fact that Ryan clearly knew how to live," said President Frederiksen. "He was clearly the embodiment of everything the University and this game are all about. It has been inspiring to see how the community, his incredible teammates – this extraordinary team of young men who are brothers – and everyone in the audience have rallied around this moment. It's clearly a reflection that I hope we all take to heart with pride in our Charger community at a time when we could all use some optimism, some courage, some joy, and some laughter. This was clearly what Ryan was all about."

View the full campus memorial celebration and see more pictures from the Oct. 30 game here and here.

 (Campus memorial photos courtesy of Chariot Yearbook. Pre-game ceremony and hockey photos courtesy of Lily Anderson.)