Fallen Angel Ryan Duke A Beloved Brother, Father and Friend of the Community

BY: ALYSSA MAHADEO 

It doesn’t matter who you speak to if you ask anyone in the WI Entertainment community everyone has the same kind, beautiful and positive words to say about Ryan.

I myself never had the chance to meet Ryan, but as a community reporter, my job is to share the stories of people who left lasting impressions on society to ensure that people remember them for the amazing and wonderful individuals that they were.

In the days leading up to November 28th, 2018 news flooded throughout social media of Ryan Duke being admitted to the hospital. Close friends, family, and members of the community asking for prayers for a man who was a great friend to the community, an individual who truly understood what it meant to love humanity.

Ryan Duke was a DJ, a friend, a brother, a beloved husband, and father. Throughout his life, Ryan touched so many people. In whatever he did, he was always looking to help people in any way that he could, offering helpful advice to those that needed it, bringing a meal to feed the hungry or just be that shoulder to cry on, always actively working to reassure people that everything would be okay.

He left lasting impressions on people that had only briefly crossed his path, and the bonds of friendships he formed were everlasting. People respected him for his hustle, the way he raised his son, the pride he had when he spoke of his boy’s accomplishments and the way that he would always go above and beyond for anyone who needed his kindness.

When news of Ryan’s passing broke, the community mourned. They had no words to describe their feelings and it hurt them to hear about his sudden passing.

“Ryan was a really sweet guy,” shares his girlfriend Sasha Mohammed, mother to his four-month-old daughter Jazmyn Aryah Duke. Sasha and Ryan met through a mutual friend in the club scene where he was spinning as a DJ. “The pride he had about his son, the love that he had was just so sweet, it immediately made me recognize what a great guy he was.”

Ryan’s big heart knew no bounds, he was always searching for ways to make the world a better place. It didn’t matter who you were or what you needed Ryan would do what he could to help. At his funeral service, many came forward to share stories of times when Ryan had helped them when they were struggling financially, or living in shelters, to help them find a job, and get them back on their feet vastly improving their lives, and that of their families.

“He was a very humble and caring person,” shares Maria Duke, mother of Ryan’s oldest child Brandan Duke also known in the community as Brandan Duke the DJ. “He was one of those people that if you needed help, he was the first in line to help you.”

Ryan was a very positive and optimistic person, there was never a dull moment when you were around him and it didn’t matter how bad a situation might be, he somehow was always able to find the positive and make it known.

“I used to call him my knight in shining armour because he saved me,” Sasha says. “He always protected me even if it was something trivial, he was always there for me and he helped me through a lot.”

“He always commanded a high level of respect from people, even if they didn’t know him, they respected him, and what he did. That’s the type of man he was.”

Ryan’s greatest legacy is his two children, Brandan, and Jazmyn Duke. Although Jazmyn will be too young to remember her father, her big brother Brandan is stepping up to ensure his little sister will know all of the great memories they shared together.

“Our relationship was amazing, we always stuck together, we were a team.” Brandan shares. “One of our mottos was, teamwork makes the dream work and we worked together all the time on cool new ideas to share with the public.”

At 12 years old, Brandan speaks with a maturity not yet discovered by boys his age. His memories of his father and their unbreakable bond over music is a testament to what Ryan taught his son about loving life and extending that love to his family and the entire community. His father worked tirelessly to carve out a path for Brandan in the entertainment scene supporting him in his DJ career and making him the youngest DJ in the world at the age of 6.

“He was always trying to teach his son Brandan life lessons, always looking for the good in people, don’t judge a book by its cover,” Sasha says.

“My dad would always tell me to be humble, make sure you’re not doing bad things, or saying bad things to other people,” Brandan explains. “He would also say no matter how many people are in the crowd whether it’s one, or it’s a million make sure you always play your best, no matter what always make your best impression, because you never know who is out in the crowd watching.”

Ryan’s legacy will continue to live on through Brandan’s music. The Duke family has incorporated Ryan’s final heartbeat into Brandan’s new logo featuring his love for his faith, and his work as a DJ in the community, inspired by the hopes of great things the future has to offer.

“Ryan loved golfing, bowling and cricket even if he wasn’t the best!  His most valuable time would be watching the Raptors, Leafs, Jays and believe it or not the Buffalo Bills with his son and closest friends around,” shares two of Ryan’s close friends Sheena Rohoman and Natalie Tulshi-Persaud. “Ryan loved being around people and we loved being around him.”

“Ryan has been a part of our lives for almost 20 years. We admired Ryan’s dedication towards the relationship between us all. We loved his home gatherings that were more personal and intimate, far from the rest of his life.”

Ryan is remembered by the way he would treat people, be them people he knew intimately or a homeless man he’d just met on the street. He was touched by the people he met the stories they shared and his kind-hearted nature always drove him to go above and beyond for anyone in need.

In the entertainment industry, Ryan was revered by his colleagues and his peers. His passion for music, which he passed on to his son, was something that got him into the DJ business, he was always looking to provide a professional service and something over and beyond that of a regular DJ.

“He was a highly reliable person, he was one of those guys that I knew I could really rely on to orchestrate and plan events,” shares another close friend Riyad Mohammed, also known in the entertainment community as DJ Riyad.

“He was a man of his word if he committed to doing something he would do it, and I liked the way he conducted himself.”

His DJ name DJ R.Y.A.N stood for #Rockinyaallnight a tag which can be found across social media tied to posts of tributes from people paying their respects to Ryan appreciating the music he shared with them, and all the memories made at the events where he brought the rocking vibes all night long.

“He really wanted to bring music to the people,” Riyad says.

Ryan was committed to giving back, he never backed down from a difficult situation, never made excuses for why something couldn’t be done. Even in the coldest of winters, he would take time to go downtown with the help of Riyad, another friend Brother Krishna and a team of people from the Gopal Mandir to feed the homeless.

“He was always very supportive and did whatever he could to assist, to give back and help out. If it was one thing about Ryan he always made you feel comfortable.”

Upon his passing, Ryan’s family consented on his behalf, to have his organs donated. Through his donation, Ryan was able to help 4 individuals live to see another day. “Based on the kind of person that he was, it was what he would have wanted,” Maria said.

Over the past week, the family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, and support from the community. Tribute songs have been written in Ryan’s honour, memorial services were efficiently organized, and everyone was able to come together to remember Ryan in a way that he would have wanted. The family would especially like to thank Jerry at Calypso Hut for all of the help he has given them, and for allowing them to use his restaurant as a collective gathering place for the community.

On December 28th Ryan would have been 42 years old. As a celebration of his life, his closest friends and family invite the community to a special fundraising Dinner & Dance on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 at Chandni Convention Centre*. This is a semi-formal family event and all proceeds from the night will be put towards an Education Savings Plan for Ryan’s children Jazmyn and Brandan.

“They don’t really make people like Ryan anymore where the core values of that person are honesty, integrity, and reliability. He had it all, and he would always try his best to do what’s good for everybody else around him, he would always put people before himself,” Riyad says.

His daughter Jazmyn will never have the chance to know her father, but the people who knew him will have so many stories to share with her one day, to guide her in everything she chooses to pursue.

“I want her to know that no matter whatever bad day her dad might have had he always found ways to make you feel better. He would find ways to make you laugh, he never liked to see people hurting,” Sasha shares.

“If you can make someone smile and make their day a better day, your father would be so proud.”

Rest in eternal peace Ryan Duke. #Rockinyaallnight

*Venue has been changed since article printed in the newspaper, this is the new location.