The Gurnee, Illinois, community is mourning the death of Ryan J. Scanlon, a gifted baseball player whose journey from Warren Township High School to Carthage College became a source of pride for those who watched him grow through the sport.
Scanlon died on September 25, 2026, at the age of 24. His obituary identifies him as a lifelong Gurnee-area resident whose family, friendships, education and athletic accomplishments were central to his life.
His passing has brought sadness to relatives, former teammates, coaches, classmates and others who followed his baseball career across northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.
Ryan Scanlon’s Gurnee Roots
Ryan was born on June 14, 2002, and grew up in Gurnee.
Before becoming a standout college pitcher, he played baseball at Warren Township High School, where the foundation of his competitive career was built.
Those early years connected him closely with the local sports community and eventually opened the door to college baseball at Carthage College in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin.
For people in Gurnee who followed his progression, Scanlon’s success at the collegiate level represented years of commitment beginning close to home.
A Baseball Career That Continued to Grow
Scanlon’s college career was defined by steady improvement.
At Carthage, he developed into a 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher and eventually became one of the most effective starters in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
By the 2025 season, his development had reached a new level.
Scanlon went 6-1 with a 3.70 ERA during the award period and struck out 62 batters over 56 innings, earning him one of the conference’s highest individual honors.
Ryan Scanlon Named CCIW Pitcher of the Year
The CCIW named Scanlon its 2025 Pitcher of the Year, placing him among the top baseball players in the conference.
The award marked the high point of a college career shaped by persistence and development.
It also gave Scanlon a place in Carthage baseball history as one of the program’s leading pitchers during an important season.
Dominant Performance in the Conference Tournament
One of Scanlon’s most memorable outings came during the CCIW Baseball Championship.
Facing Millikin in an elimination game, he delivered a complete-game shutout.
Scanlon allowed only five hits, struck out 11 batters and walked just one as Carthage earned a 9-0 victory.
That performance showed why he had become such an important part of the Firebirds’ pitching staff.
Regional Recognition Followed
Scanlon’s season also earned attention beyond the conference.
He was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region Second Team, an honor selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Carthage also reported that he finished the year with a 7-1 record, a 3.18 ERA and 73 strikeouts across 65 innings.
Those numbers reflected the strongest season of his college career.
More Than Statistics on a Baseball Field
While awards and numbers document Scanlon’s athletic achievements, they only represent one part of his life.
His obituary information describes him as someone remembered for warmth, thoughtfulness and the relationships he built with others.
For teammates, memories may involve practices, road trips, dugouts and competitive moments.
For friends and family, the memories are likely much more personal.
Education Beyond Baseball
Ryan also invested heavily in his education.
Current obituary reporting states that he completed his studies at Carthage and went on to earn a master’s degree in Sports Management.
That academic path allowed him to remain connected to athletics even after his college playing days ended.
Beginning a Professional Career
After finishing school, Scanlon reportedly began working for Champro, a sporting-goods company.
The move represented a natural transition from college athletics into the wider sports industry.
At only 24, he had already begun building a professional path beyond competitive baseball.
Ryan Scanlon Cause of Death
Ryan Scanlon’s death is confirmed, but a specific cause has not been publicly disclosed.
His obituary records that he died on September 25, 2026, but does not identify an illness, accident or medical emergency.
Any more specific explanation would therefore be speculation.
The most accurate wording is that his cause of death remains private or undisclosed.
Family Members Mourning Ryan Scanlon
Ryan is survived by his parents, Suzanne and Matt Scanlon, his sister Ashley, his girlfriend Hannah Poff, and his grandmother Doreen Scanlon, along with extended relatives.
Those family relationships represent the most personal side of the loss.
His baseball accomplishments brought public recognition, but his family and closest friends knew him through everyday experiences far removed from awards and statistics.
Funeral and Memorial Arrangements
Visitation for Ryan Scanlon is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A funeral Mass is planned for Saturday, October 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Gurnee.
The services will allow family members, friends, teammates and members of the local community to gather in his memory.
A Life Linking Gurnee and Kenosha
Ryan’s story connected two communities.
Gurnee was home.
Warren Township was where his early baseball career took shape.
Kenosha became the setting for the next chapter, where he developed into an award-winning pitcher at Carthage College.
That geographical connection helps explain why his death has been felt in both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Remembering Ryan Scanlon Beyond Baseball
Scanlon’s baseball record will remain easy to document.
There are statistics, awards, tournament performances and official college records.
What cannot be captured as easily are the relationships behind those achievements.
For the people who knew him, Ryan was more than a pitcher.
He was a son, brother, boyfriend, teammate, friend and young professional whose life was still expanding beyond college athletics.
Gurnee Community Remembers Ryan Scanlon
At just 24 years old, Ryan Scanlon had already accomplished something many young athletes work years to achieve.
He had competed at the college level, become his conference’s Pitcher of the Year, earned regional honors and begun moving into a professional career connected with sports.
His death has brought that progress to an unexpected end.
For Gurnee, Warren Township and Carthage College, Ryan’s name will remain tied to baseball achievement.
For his family and friends, however, his legacy will continue through the memories and relationships that existed long before any award was placed beside his name.