Robert “Ryan” Bray

Robert “Ryan” Bray died on Saturday October 14, 2017. Eleven days after his 39^th birthday his body yielded to complications from diabetes as he passed mercifully in his sleep at his home in Carnegie, PA. Ryan was born on October 3^rd, 1978 in Burlington, VT, eldest son of Todd and Pam. With his younger brother Justin and sister Sarah, the family moved to the Pittsburgh area in 1986 and Ryan continued to develop into such an interesting young man. He was a casual athlete, promising student, avid reader, compassionate animal lover, and into all things creative: writing, drawing, dancing, storytelling, etc.  He graduated from West Allegheny High School in 1997 and went on to spend time at Penn State Beaver, the United States Navy, and SUNY New Paltz before moving back to western Pa. Not long after his return home, he was diagnosed with diabetes and began the struggle with the disease that would plague him for the rest of his life. Though he suffered greatly through the years, especially recently, Ryan never complained and seemed to grow sweeter and more grateful for life and its blessings as time went on. He enjoyed time with his family and his gaming community, refused to give up on his scuba diving dreams, pursued knowledge of every kind and eagerly shared his findings with everyone he knew, and loved to lavish attention on his number one companion, the family dog LuLu. He marched to his own beat his whole life and his unique humor, outlook, and soul will be so dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his parents, Pam and John Iaconis of Carnegie, PA and Todd and Victoria Bray of Imperial, PA; brother Justin Bray, his wife Jessica, and their son Liam; sister Sarah (Bray) Cooper and husband Paul; and by many devoted aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Pittsburgh area and throughout the country.  

There will be a Celebration of Life Service for Ryan at The Bible Chapel in Robinson (175 McMichael Road, Carnegie, Pa 15106) on Saturday October 21^st at 11 AM. All friends and family are invited to join for a lunch reception at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund or The American Humane Association, two causes that were near and dear to Ryan.

Please view and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.