07/21/2026
Rest In Peace Police Officer Ryan McDonald
The NYPD Gaelic Football Club saddened by the passing of Ryan McDonald. Ryan was a member of our club with a promising future as both a Police Officer and Gaelic football player.
Obituary:
Ryan Thomas McDonald, of Orangeburg, New York, passed away unexpectedly on July 18, 2026. He was 28 years old.
Ryan proudly served as a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department, assigned to the 34th Precinct. He joined the Department on January 29, 2025, and quickly found his calling in law enforcement. Ryan loved being a police officer and embraced the brotherhood of the NYPD. Serving the people of New York City gave him a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Born on November 24, 1997, in Suffern, New York, Ryan was the beloved son of Edward McDonald and Kara O’Keeffe McDonald. He graduated from Pearl River High School with the Class of 2015 before earning a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Fordham University. He continued his education at Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 2023.
Ryan was a proud member of the Comanche Nation Tribe of Oklahoma and took great pride in his Native American heritage. He dedicated himself to learning the rich history of his tribe and embraced his ancestry with genuine passion. Ryan spent countless hours reading about the Comanche people and even began learning the Comanche language to deepen his connection with his heritage.
Ryan was also a proud member of the Rockland County GAA, where he discovered a love for the sport of hurling. His passion for the game ultimately led him to become a member of the NYPD Gaelic Football Club, an honor he cherished. The friendships, and pride he found through both organizations became an important part of his life.
Ryan will be remembered for his kindness, warmth, and genuine compassion for others. He had an infectious smile, a wonderful sense of humor, and an easygoing personality that made everyone feel welcome. Friendly, thoughtful, and caring, Ryan was deeply loved by his family, friends, and colleagues. His loss will be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Ryan is survived by his loving parents, Edward McDonald and Kara O’Keeffe McDonald; his brother, Kyle McDonald; and many devoted aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, and countless friends.
He was predeceased by his beloved brother, Kevin McDonald; his maternal grandparents, Wilda and Norman O’Keeffe; and his paternal grandparents, Mary and John McDonald.
Family and friends are invited to visit with Ryan’s family on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home, Pearl River, New York.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Blauvelt, New York. Interment will immediately follow at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Nanuet, New York.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ryan’s memory to the NYPD Widow and Orphans Fund.
If you would like to donate to this 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, please make a check payable to the NYC PBA Widows and Children’s Fund, and send it to Patrick Hendry at the Police Benevolent Association, 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2400.
https://www.wymanfisher.com/obituary/Ryan-McDonald
