The death of Ryan Louis Pitts, a Northern Kentucky financial professional and entrepreneur, has brought sadness to family members, friends, clients and people connected to the communities he helped build around both business and recreation.
Pitts, 42, died at his home in Crittenden, Kentucky, on September 24, 2026.
His life combined professional ambition with a strong love of people, travel, lake life, cars, sports and social gatherings.
Rather than being remembered only through his career, those closest to him describe a man whose personality and relationships shaped the spaces around him.
Ryan Pitts Built His Life in Northern Kentucky
Ryan was born April 30, 1984, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Robert Pitts and Nanci Kleiman Pitts.
He later became closely associated with Northern Kentucky, where he attended Scott High School before continuing his studies at Northern Kentucky University.
In 2007, he graduated from NKU with a degree in finance.
That academic foundation became the starting point for a career that eventually moved beyond employment into entrepreneurship.
From Financial Planning to Business Ownership
Ryan entered the financial-services industry through Waddell & Reed.
Over time, he developed experience in long-term financial planning and earned the Certified Financial Planner designation.
His career later took a major turn when he established Retirement Security Group in 2017.
The company allowed him to build a business around the knowledge and experience he had accumulated in the financial industry.
For clients, Ryan became more than a financial professional. His obituary indicates that many formed lasting connections with him through the work he did.
Entrepreneurship Extended Beyond Finance
Ryan’s ambitions were not limited to one industry.
He later became involved in Next Level RV Resort at Norris Lake in Tennessee, serving as a founder and co-owner.
That venture reflected several things he enjoyed personally, including travel, boating, camping and creating spaces where people could spend time together.
Norris Lake eventually became much more than a business location for Ryan.
The relationships formed there became part of his wider social circle, and his obituary describes the people around the lake as an extended family.
Ryan Pitts Cause of Death
Ryan died at home in Crittenden on September 24, 2026.
His official obituary does not disclose a specific medical cause of death.
No illness, accident or medical event should therefore be added to his story unless his family later chooses to provide that information.
The most accurate description is simply that Ryan Louis Pitts died at age 42 at his home in Kentucky.
Known for Bringing People Together
One of the strongest themes in Ryan’s obituary is his social personality.
He and his wife frequently hosted gatherings both at home and around Norris Lake.
Friends knew him as someone who enjoyed celebrations, conversation and spending time with a large network of people.
That outgoing personality earned him the affectionate nickname “Big Bear.”
The nickname became part of the way friends identified and remembered him.
His Interests Went Far Beyond Work
Ryan’s professional life was only one part of who he was.
He enjoyed boating and camping, which naturally connected with his involvement at Norris Lake.
He also loved traveling and dancing.
Movies, sports and classic cars were among his other interests.
Classic Ford Mustangs held a particularly strong appeal for him.
These interests created connections with people outside his professional world and gave his life a balance between business and recreation.
A Loyal Cincinnati Bengals Supporter
Football also held a special place in Ryan’s life.
He was a dedicated Cincinnati Bengals fan and had maintained season tickets for several years before his death.
His connection with the team reflected the broader Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky roots that shaped much of his identity.
For friends who attended games with him or followed football alongside him, those memories now form another part of how he is remembered.
Family Was at the Center of His World
Ryan is survived by his wife, Courtney Lawson Pitts.
His obituary makes clear that Courtney occupied a central place in his life.
He is also survived by his parents, Robert and Nanci Pitts, and a large extended family that includes siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews and godchildren.
Those relationships formed the personal foundation beneath his professional achievements.
His family life was also closely connected with the pets and animals he loved.
Love for Animals Reflected in Memorial Donations
Ryan’s affection for animals is reflected in one of the causes selected by his family for memorial contributions.
Instead of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory may support the Stray Animal Adoption Program in Newport, Kentucky.
That request offers a meaningful clue about the values and interests Ryan carried outside business.
Support for Military and Law Enforcement
Ryan was also known for strongly supporting members of the military and law enforcement.
His family included the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation’s Fallen Officer Trust among the organizations people could support in his memory.
That choice reflects another cause he valued during his life.
His Death Is Felt Across Several Communities
Ryan’s connections stretched beyond Crittenden.
His professional career tied him to clients and colleagues throughout Northern Kentucky.
His university years connected him with NKU.
His financial businesses brought him into contact with people across the region.
Meanwhile, his Norris Lake venture created an entirely different community of friends, visitors and business partners.
That wide network explains why his death has affected people in more than one place.
Funeral and Memorial Service
Ryan’s family scheduled visitation for October 1, 2026, at Middendorf Funeral Home in Fort Wright, Kentucky.
The visitation is set for the afternoon, followed by a memorial service later that day.
The gathering will give friends, relatives, clients and community members an opportunity to remember him together.
Ryan Pitts Leaves Behind More Than a Business Legacy
It would be easy to summarize Ryan Pitts through his professional accomplishments.
He earned a finance degree.
He became a Certified Financial Planner.
He created a financial-planning company.
He became involved in another entrepreneurial venture centered around Norris Lake.
But his obituary suggests that the relationships surrounding those accomplishments were equally important.
Friends remember the gatherings.
Clients remember the conversations.
Family members remember the personal moments.
People at Norris Lake remember someone who became part of a community much larger than a business project.
Remembering Ryan Louis Pitts
Ryan Louis Pitts died at 42, leaving behind a life that was still actively growing.
His story was one of entrepreneurship, financial planning, friendship, recreation and family.
He built businesses, but he also built connections.
He enjoyed success, but he also made time for travel, boats, football, cars, animals and the people around him.
For those who knew Ryan personally, his legacy will likely be found less in job titles and more in the experiences they shared with him.
Those memories now remain at the center of how the Crittenden and Northern Kentucky communities remember Ryan Louis Pitts.