Ryan Douglas-Kai Dobie

Ryan was born in California’s San Fernando Valley at Tarzana-Encino Medical Center, under Friday night hospital lights, July 31, 1992. His family moved to Torrance in 1995 where he attended Walteria Elementary School, Richardson Middle School and South Torrance High School.

An excellent athlete, Ryan was passionate, enthusiastic and an intense competitor. He cared deeply about his performance and winning – across all sports he played: soccer, baseball, basketball and especially football. With his 8th grade Torrance Panther football team, Ryan took over as starting Quarterback the third game of the season and lead his team to 10 consecutive wins, including the State and Western regional championships. In 2010, Ryan’s senior year as a Spartan, at South Torrance High School, his football team earned the best record for the South High since 1958. The Spartans won the conference, two CIF playoff games and came a yard short of winning South High school’s first football CIF championship. Ryan was named this team’s co-most valuable player, named to the all-conference team and the prestigious all CIF regional team, and was inducted into the South Torrance High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Ryan continued as a Spartan attending Michigan State University, joining his brother Jake, graduating with a B.A. communications May 2017. Ryan loved living in Michigan and felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment earning his degree. He didn’t stray too far from the gridiron, working part-time officiating both Pop Warner and High School football games with his uncle Scott, playing golf with his cousins and basketball with friends at Michigan State.

Ryan returned to California, accepting the head coach position of the South High Spartan freshman football team. His energy and passion connected with his players, and he led a very good freshman team to 8 wins in his first season. He was promoted to an assistant coach on the Varsity and was looking forward to a very good season this year.

In Dec 2017, Ryan traveled on a 19-day European exploration of London, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona and Lisbon. Traveling alone, he felt the trip changed him and gave him a new life perspective. He loved Europe and had made-up his mind that he was going to move to Italy in the future.

Ryan had great compassion as a case worker with autistic young people. In addition, he worked as a teaching assistant for the 6th and 7th graders at VOX charter school, Inglewood, CA. Along with his social work, coaching and teaching, Ryan was demonstrating a new entrepreneurial spirit - that had him jazzed and energized.

A lover of food, wine, music, concerts, fantasy sports, skiing, traveling and most of all- his family and friends - Ryan honored both his family and friends with tattoos. Celebrate Life. The oldest of seven, with three younger brothers and three younger sisters, Ryan was the alpha of the California Dobie-Holman kids. He relished being the big brother. Disarmingly funny and self-deprecating, Ryan was silly, strong, naïve and wise all at once. Most of all he was fun, ambitious, very positive and incredibly full of life. He will forever be in our hearts, in our laughter and in our tears. Unforgettable, his legend will only grow as we remember the incredible 26.5 years, he shared with us. Celebrate Life. Celebrate Ryan Dobie’s Life.

Ryan’s story will be carried forward by his mother Linda Dobie, father Douglas Dobie, Step-mother Debbie Dobie and step-father Pat Holman. His Grandpa Bob and Grandma Kay Underwood. His Grandma Marcy Dobie. His brothers Jake Dobie, Luke Dobie and Josh Holman, and his sisters Grace Dobie, Danielle Dobie and Danay Holman. His huge South High Spartan family, His Michigan State Spartan Family, New Jersey Family and of course his dog, Lou Dog. From one of his favorite bands Sublime, Ryan would say to all of us: “Let the lovin', let the lovin' come back to me…”


Donations in Ryan's name are to be made to the
South High Torrance football booster club,
Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance CA