Ryan Gregory Engstrom

Ryan Engstrom, a native of Raleigh, NC, died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 9, in Chapel Hill. He was 26 years old. Growing up in Raleigh, Ryan attended Aldert Root Elementary School and graduated from Ravenscroft School. He later graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he double-majored in Chemistry and in Peace, War, and Defense. At the time of his death, he was a student at the UNC School of Dentistry.

He is survived by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Todd Engstrom; his sister, Lauren Engstrom; his grandmothers, Julie Engstrom (Delray Beach, FL and Spruce Pine, NC) and Marie Parrish (Trinity, NC); his aunts and uncles, Kirk and Mary Jo Engstrom (Davie, FL), Charles Anna and Sonny Koontz (Thomasville, NC), and Alexa and Barr Wheeler (Tavernier, FL); and numerous cousins.

We are grateful that although brief, Ryan’s life was rich and rewarding. An adventurer at heart, he traveled extensively in North America, studied for a semester in Sweden, and made numerous trips to Europe and the Caribbean, including dental mission trips with his dad to Ecuador and Honduras. Ryan also loved to cook and was especially famous for his gourmet filets. The only thing that Ryan loved more than cooking and traveling was cheering on the Tar Heels. He had attended Carolina basketball games since he was two years old, and some of the first words he learned to say were “Go, Heels!” Although Ryan’s family and friends remember him for all these passions, they remember him most of all for his kindness, his concern for others, and his gentleness of spirit. He was a young man who kept friends forever, from elementary school on up. He brought tremendous joy to all who knew and loved him.

Ryan’s family will receive friends at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh, from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday, September 12. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Monday, September 13, at Ryan’s church: University Presbyterian Church, 209 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dental Foundation of North Carolina/Ryan Engstrom Memorial, 101A Market Street, Campus Box 7451, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7451. Online condolences may be sent to the family through www.brownwynne.com.

Arrangements under the direction of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.

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