On October 14, 2026, Stephen Ryan Hughes breathed his last following a three year battle with cancer. Ryan was born in Akron, Ohio on February 13, 1980 and was raised in nearby Wadsworth. He attended Bowling Green State University where he found two of the three most meaningful and enduring presences in his life - his Alpha Sigma Phi brothers and his wife. The latter led him directly to the third defining pillar - the Catholic Church of which he became a member on April 11, 2004, along with his infant firstborn son.. He was a devoted father of ten and a dedicated employee of Presidio. He spent his life showing up and he did that until the very end.
Ryan’s most visible talent, besides being able to fall asleep almost instantly in nearly any situation, was his incredible facility with computers. From a young age, Ryan was fascinated by the technology and spent hours reading the computer manuals his HP printer salesman Dad brought home. This passion became a career and Ryan became a distinguished network security architect which allowed him to do what he loved and support his ever growing family.
Despite his commitment to his work, Ryan always made time for others. He rarely let a call go to voicemail. He sent the text, took the selfie, shared the meme, and showed up again and again.
He mentored new employees and believed in others before they believed in themselves. He was a tenaciously loyal friend. Ryan was gruff and grumpy, sarcastic and short-tempered but he was real and incapable of being anything other than who he was. Once he decided you were his friend, there was no going back. He would be there no matter what and he expected nothing in return. He was a steady presence in an unpredictable world and we were all better for having known him.
His legacy will be carried on by the small army of children he created, Caleb, Tobin, Micaiah, Cyrus, Talia, Mara, Phineas, Cana, Gideon, and Jonah. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Jacquelyn (Slauterbeck Toft) Hughes, and his parents Lori Marshall, and Stephen and Deborah Hughes and much extended family.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Johns Creek, Georgia at 11 am Monday, October 19 with a committal service at Honey Creek Woodlands in Conyers, Georgia. A gathering of recollection will be held Sunday, October 18 3-6 pm at the Medlock Bridge neighborhood clubhouse 10150 Groomsbridge Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Georgia Water Polo Association or Ignite Robotics.
