Dr. Ryan Patrick Charbeneau, 52, passed away on the morning of July 4, 2023, in Austin, Texas, with loving family by his side. He was a good man, a good husband, father, brother and son, and was loved deeply.
Ryan was born in Houston in 1971 to parents Elizabeth and Peter. He grew up there, playing tennis and forming close, life-long friendships. He met the love of his life, Jessica, in high school. They married in 1997, and she was by his side until the very end.
Ryan graduated from Memorial High School in 1989 and matriculated to the University of Texas, where he studied biology before heading to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for medical school. He and Jessica moved to Burlington, Vermont for his residency, and then to Ypsilanti, Michigan where he completed a pulmonary medicine fellowship at the University of Michigan. While there he and Jessica had their first son, Henry, in 2003. They moved back to Austin in 2007, where Ryan practiced pulmonary/critical care and hospitalist medicine. They welcomed their second son, Quinn, in 2009.
In 2017, Ryan moved from working as a physician to become the Chief Medical Officer for St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, a role in which he flourished due his thoughtful nature and capacity to empathize with doctors, nurses, and patients. He was well-loved by his colleagues for his kindness and ability to find common ground when facing complex issues. This included giving nurses, staff and doctors rides to work in his beloved Jeep during the Snowpocalypse of 2021. He also headed up the hospital’s COVID-19 response, working tirelessly to support staff and patients in the face of the pandemic.
Outside of work, Ryan was what you might call a “serial hobbyist.” There was nothing he could not do and do well, or with typical levels of enthusiasm, whether it was playing the bagpipes for weddings or on mountain tops, playing in adult soccer leagues, or learning to play blues guitar, he approached each with intense curiosity and a zeal for mastery. He loved to hike and bike and could often be found on weekends miles out of town cycling. He was an animal lover and cared for birds, cats, rabbits, and three Goldendoodles over the course of his life, often several at once. He also loved cars, and in 2021 realized his lifelong dream of owning a Porsche and selected the license plate “Hayago” which means “quick go” in the Japanese game of Go, his favorite since college.
Unfortunately, 2021 also saw him diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). He faced the disease with his usual tenacity and vigor, outlasting initial prognoses to survive twenty months. He spent those months with his family and friends, working as CMO at “his” hospital, and making the most out of every single day he had. He will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched and made better.
He is survived by his wife, Jessica, sons, Henry and Quinn, father and stepmother, Peter and Fran Charbeneau, siblings Tony Miller, Elizabeth Miller (Scott Stottlemyre), Dylan Charbeneau (Alexis Charbeneau) and Dane Charbeneau (Ross Martinez), aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as his enduring group of best friends who have stayed close despite living in all parts of the country since their graduation from Memorial High Schools’ Class of 1989.
Ryan’s celebration of life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on July 28, 2023 at the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home located at 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas 78731. Please dress comfortably. In the spirit of Ryan - ties are optional, Birkenstocks are encouraged.
In lieu of flowers, Ryan's closest friends are leading a drive to honor Ryan by making contributions to his children's college fund, to continue his legacy by supporting his children's education. If you would like to honor Ryan in this way, please email [email protected] for details. The family would also welcome contributions to the Glioblastoma Foundation (https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate), the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary (https://donate.sararafoundation.org/give/406805/#!/donation/checkout), or to a charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the Charbeneau family.
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