Ryan Lee Starnes

1986 - 2015

Ryan Lee Starnes
Aug. 31, 1986 ~ Nov. 4, 2015
Resident of San Jose, CA
Ryan Lee Starnes, 29, died Wed., Nov, 4, 2015, in a motorcycle accident while traveling in Baja, Mexico.
He leaves his wife Marina Olivieri, parents Ron Starnes and Carole Tait-Starnes, sister Jenna Starnes, extended family and many friends.
Born in Santa Clara, Ca, Aug. 31, 1986, Ryan was an incredibly active and adventurous person; as a child he was able to climb bookshelves long before he could walk, and was more inclined to run once he mastered walking. Many people have commented on his happy, kind nature and how he was rarely without a smile. He was witty and could be quite goofy. It was always fun and a joy to be in his presence.
Ryan found his passion in studying the human body and athletics. Ryan earned a Master's degree in Kinesiology in 2011 from San Jose State Univ., and used his knowledge to open his own gym, Integrative Personal Training, in Los Altos. After completing his formal education he ordered and read through textbook after textbook, and attended multiple workshops with the most knowledgeable leaders in the fields of corrective and high-performance exercise kinesiology. He often joked his love of learning would be the undoing of his savings.
Ryan had an exceptional love for travel and meeting new people. He would strike up warm conversations with whomever he encountered, even when he didn't speak the local language. He had a gift for connecting with people. Some of the many destinations Ryan explored and enjoyed include Italy, England, New Zealand, Ireland, Thailand, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Vietnam, India and Peru. At home and abroad he played soccer, surfed and hiked.
In 29 years, Ryan lived life fully and demonstrated an appreciation for life that is rarely expressed by many of us. He is painfully missed by his family. We will always remember his smiling face and kindness that touched so many lives.
A beautiful celebration of life was held for Ryan on November 21st, 2015, at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. Ryan's family would like to thank all who attended and made the event possible.


View the online memorial for Ryan Lee Starnes