Friendship and legacy can outlast a lifetime. Few stories embody that truth more powerfully than that of Ryan Gebler.
More than 13 years after his passing at just 24 years old, Ryan’s influence continues to shine through his family, friends, and fellow alumni of The Catholic University of America—and through the work of the foundation created in his honor, the Never Retreat Foundation.
A beloved member of the Class of 2010, Ryan was a passionate hockey player, a gifted musician, and, above all, a friend to everyone he met. He passed away on December 23, 2012, after a brief and courageous battle with a rare form of bone cancer.
Yet his legacy endures. Guided by the theme of courage and strength, the Never Retreat Foundation—now marking its tenth anniversary—funds programs that inspire hope, healing, and encouragement for those battling cancer and their families.
A Spirit That Refused to Retreat
Those who knew Ryan remember his joy before anything else — his grin, his music, his energy, the player who kept morale high no matter the score.
Off the ice, Ryan was equally dynamic: a talented guitarist and singer, a psychology major fascinated by the science of the mind, and a natural connector who made everyone feel welcome.
“Ryan had this rare ability to make you feel like you belonged,” recalls his friend and teammate Matt Patella, B.A. 2010, M.S. 2014. “He could walk into any room, strike up a conversation with anyone, and before you knew it, you were part of his circle.”
From Grief to a Movement
In 2015, Ryan’s family and friends — many of them fellow Catholic University alumni — channeled their grief into purpose. They founded the Never Retreat Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by cancer. Guided by Ryan’s spirit, the foundation supports programs that inspire hope, healing, and encouragement for patients and their families.
From the very beginning, Never Retreat Foundation was a true Catholic University endeavor. Founded in collaboration with the Gebler family—with Ryan’s brother, Brendan Gebler, serving as Chairman and his sister, Shannon Gebler, as Vice Chairman—the board and committees included close friends and fellow alumni such as Matt Patella, Joe Dumas, B.A. 2010, Kevin Amato, B.A. 2009, Colin Higgins, B.A. 2010, Greg Manning, B.A. 2003, Rachel Burkhardt, B.A. 2012, and other alumni who contributed over the years. Many of them had shared the ice with Ryan on the hockey team or the classroom as students. Together, they built an organization that now hosts annual fundraisers, awareness events, and one of the most spirited alumni weekends on the calendar.
“Ryan’s courage and compassion touched so many,” says his brother Brendan Gebler. “We wanted to continue that — to keep his energy moving forward and to make sure others facing cancer feel the same love and support Ryan gave to everyone.”
Never Retreat Weekend
Each spring, dozens of alumni return to Washington, D.C., for Never Retreat Weekend—a celebration that blends remembrance, camaraderie, and community. The day begins with an alumni hockey game, where Ryan’s father proudly serves as referee, and concludes with a fundraiser at Kelly’s Irish Times, a beloved gathering spot where Ryan’s #61 jersey hangs behind the bar in tribute.
For Ryan’s parents, who travel each year from Pittsburgh, it’s an emotional pilgrimage. “To see these young men and women, now in their thirties, still coming together after all these years — it’s overwhelming,” says his father, Tom Gebler. “They’ve carried Ryan with them into adulthood. This isn’t just a memorial; it’s a living testament to who he was.”
One former classmate even named his son Ryan Joseph, and another alumnus named his daughter Jane Ryan, proof that the connection runs deeper than memory.
The Music Lives On
Because Ryan’s form of cancer was most common in children, he received treatment at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. — just a short distance from The Catholic University of America.
Even in the hospital, Ryan’s creativity never dimmed. He often played guitar lifting spirits in pediatric oncology wards. His mother, Maureen Gebler remembers hearing “incredible music” echo through the corridors — a cello and a guitar blending like a quiet concert of courage.
“When I get better,” Ryan once told her, “I’m going to come back and teach these kids to play.” That promise, though unfulfilled in life, finds new expression through the foundation’s mission to support families and fund mental health programs that bring light into dark places.
A Legacy of Healing and Research
This past year, Ryan’s story came full circle. The Never Retreat Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to Catholic University’s Ryan Gebler Memorial Fund to help support palliative care — a field deeply connected to Ryan’s own experience as a patient and psychology major.
The grant supports palliative care, funding graduate student research that explores how psychological and emotional support can help those facing serious illness find strength, meaning, and peace.
“I think what our work gets to do is give families and patients control over some aspect that they can actually have control over in a really uncertain time,” says Dr. Christina Sharkey, assistant professor at Catholic University. “It gives us the ability to bring support and joy into their lives.” With the foundation’s support, she and her team are conducting studies at Children’s National Hospital, meeting with parents and patients to understand what they truly need from their care providers.
“Ryan’s battle was shaped by both pain and compassion,” says his mother (a physiotherapist herself). “He spent so much time in hospitals, especially with children who were going through similar treatments. He understood how important psychological care was — not just for patients, but for the families who stood beside them.”
For Dr. Sharkey, the grant is not only advancing science; it’s continuing Ryan Gebler’s spirit of compassion and connection. “I can’t thank them enough for supporting that work — for supporting my lab and my students and allowing that work to continue,” she says. “Every study we conduct, every family we listen to, is a reminder that Ryan’s story is still creating change — one that heals both mind and heart.”
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Thirteen years after his passing, Ryan’s influence shows no sign of fading. The Never Retreat Foundation continues to thrive, powered by volunteers and alumni who see in Ryan’s story a lasting example of faith, friendship, and perseverance.
Their annual events have raised tens of thousands of dollars for cancer care and research, and their message now reaches far beyond the Catholic University community.
Alongside the foundation, Ryan Gebler’s legacy endures—kept alive through the love of his family, the loyalty of his friends, the Catholic University family, and the compassion of all those inspired by his life.
Please consider giving to the Ryan Gebler Memorial Fund. Your gift supports palliative care research for patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses and their families conducted by research laboratories, centers, and programs in the Department of Psychology at The Catholic University of America at https://advance.catholic.edu/giving/to/ryan-gebler-mem-fund.
Published on: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Tags: Psychology, chronic illness, cancer
