Ryan Hopegill

Ryan Cameron Hopegill, born September 21, 2001, passed away unexpectedly on June 26, 2021. He was born and raised in Orlando, FL. Ryan was a 2020 graduate of Olympia High School and was currently a student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree from the Rinker School of Construction Management. Ryan is survived by his parents, Lance and Renee Hopegill, sister, Kaley Hopegill, loving grandparents, Terry and Paula Rodgers and Charles Hope-Gill, Uncle Richard Rodgers and Aunt Kim Rodgers, Aunt Heather Edwards and Uncle Robert Edwards and cousins: Kevin Rodgers, Stephanie Rodgers, Emma Edwards, Elena Edwards, Lilah Edwards, and many Great- Aunts and Uncles. As a young child Ryan was the happiest, sweetest, most loving little boy that a family could hope to have. He filled his home with laughter and spread joy to all he knew. He was silly, loved to wrestle every day when his Dad got home from work, thoroughly enjoyed annoying his sister with his antics, and would randomly climb onto his mother’s lap to snuggle announcing, “I need some sugar.” He grew up loving the Gators and was rarely seen wearing anything that wasn't orange and blue. As a middle-schooler Ryan was the kid who would split his days between lunch tables to be with his friends that weren’t always invited to sit at the “cool table.” While at Windy Ridge he earned the school’s highest honor, the Silver Hawk Award, and was a teacher favorite. From age eight to fourteen Ryan was a member of the West Orange Bobcats and football always remained his first love. He and his family have many wonderful memories from that time. Ryan was the kind of kid that told his family how much he loved and appreciated them through his words and deeds all the time. He never went to bed or left the house without saying he loved them and he would even do it in front of his friends. He kept all of the birthday cards and letters that his family wrote for him over the years in his sock drawer so he could look back on them. Even as a teenager, Ryan enjoyed spending time with his grandparents and always loved the way it made him feel when they needed his help with something. He loved seeing them at his games and always appreciated their support. Ryan’s love also extended to his dogs Chloe, Tebow, and Rosie who could always make him smile. He appreciated their unconditional love. Ryan didn’t shy away from trying to make others feel better and humor was his go-to strategy. Ryan loved making people laugh. He also did a great job of cracking himself up as well. Growing up his family used to say he was the funniest person he ever met. He had an entire playbook of impersonations and characters that he could break into at a moment’s notice. Oftentimes, whatever it was, it was highly inappropriate. And, if you wanted to take a photo, at least three completely ridiculous ones had to be taken first that would never make it to his Mom’s many Facebook posts. Most of all Ryan was kind. He had absolutely no time for pretentiousness and was spot on in his ability to identify others’ true character. Ryan knew all the words to "Jessie’s Girl" and even performed it at a karaoke club at the age of four during a family cruise. His love of music never diminished; however, some might say his taste in music did. In his later years Ryan had a passion for lyrical rap music and knew the lyrics, title, and artist to every song in his extensive playlist and never lost a “Name that Tune” battle when challenged by his teammates. Ryan was known in the community both for his skills as a water polo goalie and for his academic successes. Ryan’s favorite thing about playing sports were the friends he made along the way. From baseball, to football, then basketball, and finally water polo, Ryan connected not only with his teammates but his coaches as well. Ryan was described as one of the most coachable kids on every team he played. He was lucky enough, on most of those earlier teams, to also be coached by his Dad, who will treasure those times always. Ryan was a four year Varsity athlete in both swimming and water polo. He achieved great success playing Goalie for the Olympia Titans helping his team win their first State Championship in 2018. Ryan holds the all-time record for saves at Olympia and was a two-time USA Water Polo Academic All American. Ryan served as Captain his senior year and enjoyed his role as leader and mentor for all of the goalies. Most of his favorite memories are from the team tournament trips. He loved the times spent on the bus and in the hotel room with his boys. Losing his senior season to COVID was hard not only because he had more water polo goals to accomplish, but because he wanted more of those special memories with his teammates and coaches who he loved. It was his mother’s greatest joy to get to see him at school while working at Olympia and to serve as Team Mom for the many water polo trips creating special memories and bonds that will never be forgotten. Ryan’s classmates were often surprised by just how smart he was…..something they didn’t expect from someone who didn’t want to be taken so seriously. While in high school, Ryan served as President of the National Technical Honor Society, was a member of National Honor Society, and graduated 12th out of 797- all while playing year round Varsity sports. Most recently, while at UF, he was a member of the National Association of Home Builders and represented Rinker for the National Student Competition all while trying to start college during a pandemic. This last semester he created the winning Design-Build Project with his team, as the only freshman, and was so delighted by the judges’ feedback. Ryan’s parents would like to thank his wonderful teachers, coaches, and friends for the role they played in his life, and theirs. Ryan was lucky to have a close group of friends who he was able to hang out again with this summer which he very much enjoyed. His family appreciates all of their friends’ kindness and understanding during this unbearably difficult time. Ryan will forever be loved and missed beyond measure. A private family service will be held on July 6, 2021 at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland at 1:30 PM. A Celebration of Life for his extended family and close friends will be held at Tanner Hall in Winter Garden on July 30th from 6 - 9 PM. The family would like to express that the memories, kind words, pictures, and videos you share on the Tribute Wall are more valuable than flowers or gifts. The Hopegill family has selected Shoes That Fit as Ryan’s Memorial charity. Here is the link below: https://connect.clickandpledge.com/Organization/shoesthatfit/campaign/ryanhopegill

Ryan Hopegill

September 21, 2001 - June 26, 2021