Ryan Skates, a student-athlete at Royal Oak High School in Michigan, passed away at a very young age, leaving his parents and loved ones devastated.
The sophomore of Royal Oak and native of Michigan, Ryan, took his own life on Wednesday, February 19, morning.
His parents haven’t shared any details regarding his tragic demise as they prefer to maintain a low profile and grieve the loss of their teenage son.
While Ryan’s family hasn’t commented yet, his high school released a statement on their Facebook page confirming that Ryan Skates died by suicide.
The Royal Oaks Athletic Boosters expressed their sorrow on the untimely demise of their student-athlete, Ryan Skates.
They wrote,
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our student-athlete, Ryan Skates. In times like these, we lean on each other as teammates, as friends, and as a community. Honor Ryan by lifting each other up and reminding one another that we are never alone, Kidness always matters.”
Royal Oak Athletic Boosters
Royal Oak further sends a message to every athlete and student, stating, “To our athletes and students: It’s okay to grieve, to feel and to lean on one another, please know that you are never alone.“
Moreover, the Royal Oak High School Athletic group requested students and athletes struggling to reach out to a coach, teacher, friend, or trusted adult.
The school provided a suicide and crisis lifeline number 988 if anyone needed support, which is available 24/7.
The entire Michigan and Royal Oak Community mourns the tragic loss of Ryan Skates!
Ryan Skates was an exceptional athlete at Royal Oak, playing for the cross-country team.
In addition to cross country, Ryan showcased his exceptional skills by involving himself in several other sports and extracurricular activities.
Skates excelled both academically and in sports and was a beloved member of the Royal Oak community.
He was not only known for his athletic skills but also for his kind and cheerful nature.
The whole Royal Oak, Michigan, community mourns Ryan Skates’s tragic death and sends their heartfelt condolences to his parents and family.
Moreover, a Madison Heights, Michigan Community Cares group paid tribute to the late Royal Oak sophomore Ryan Skates on its Facebook Page.
Kimberly Oprins, a resident of Michigan, requested everyone to wear pink on February 21, 2025, in honor of Ryan Skates.
Similarly, a post shared on the group states that Ryan loved the cross country and the color pink, and to pay tribute to Ryan, everyone who knew him was requested to wear pink.
One person in the comment section wrote that Ryan Skates’s parents saw the post and reached out personally to let him know they are ok with Ryan’s name being spoken in posts, and they did not want to shy away from the circumstance of him taking his own life.
Furthermore, Ryan’s father, Robert, stated, “My wife and I hope by people talking about it, it can help families and others have conversations that may help this from happening again to someone else.“
Many in the comment section expressed their sadness and sent their heartfelt prayers to Ryan’s parents during this difficult situation.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- His parents have yet to share details regarding the funeral and memorial service for the late Ryan Skates.
- Very little information about his personal life, including the details of his family, is available.
