On October 9, 2024, Humboldt County lost an extraordinary friend, IT guy, shark-and-snark-loving, snuggable bear of a man. Joseph Ryan Peters, known as Ryan, was born May 10, 1977 in Mountain View to Martha S. Peters and John R. Peters, and grew up in the Bay Area. He graduated from Cupertino High School, Cupertino, in 1995.

An ex-girlfriend and life circumstances brought Ryan first to Garberville, where he honed his IT skills and earned four Associates of the Arts degrees from College of the Redwoods:

• College of the Redwoods, Eureka. Received an Associate in Arts in Transfer Studies, 12/15/2000
• College of the Redwoods, Eureka. Received an Associate in Arts in Natural Science/Mathematics 12/15/2000
• College of the Redwoods, Eureka. Received an Associate in Arts in Humanities 12/15/2000
• College of the Redwoods, Eureka. Received an Associate in Arts in Social Science 12/15/2000

He eventually made his way north to Eureka, where he made his mark on the community around him.

He worked as the entire IT department of RCAA since 2009, shouldering the responsibility of keeping this non-profit’s tech and internet access running smoothly with his remarkable skills in computer sciences. He was a dependable and tireless volunteer for the local community, pouring countless hours into Kinetics, the IMPropriety Society and fetish nights. Ryan took on jobs others didn’t want to do and managed them with his stubborn, and some(often)times snarky persistence.

While these above details matter, none of them matter as much as the kind of friend that Ryan was. He was the friend who could be counted on to show up in a moment of crisis. He was the ultimate problem-solver and shared this skill with those he loved. He was immensely huggable, and had a contagious giggle (Whiskey Shits! IYKYK). He was one of the best shit-talkers known to man, and loved nothing more than a good gossip session. His loyalty was unreserved — if he loved you, it was for life.

Of course, no one is perfect, and Ryan was no exception. He could offer the sassiest advice and commentary on your life; it sometimes stung but you always knew he was right. His beautiful tenacity could turn into stubborn resistance — he dug his heels in like nobody’s business! He was filled with contradictions: a gun-loving, motorcycle-riding, nerdy leftist.

With his death we strive to remember those aspects of him that brought the most joy and will be the most missed: an insatiable curiosity about the sciences, art, music, and people; a deep love for animals, particularly birds and sharks; immense knowledge and wisdom; a sassy, quick-wit; loyalty and trustworthiness; insane creativity; the best giggle in town; and a hug that could comfort the most anxious among us.

Joseph Ryan Peters is survived by his mother, Martha S. Peters, San Jose, father, John R. Peters, Gresham, Oregon, brothers, John and James of San Jose, the late Mr. & Mrs. H. F. Strickland of Gainesville, Florida and the late Mr. & Mrs. John Peters of Snellville, Georgia.

His large circle of friends who became family include: Kati, Nawdy, Q and Yvonne, Diamond and Griff, Laura and Ryan, Maxwell and Teresa, SuperK8 and Silas, Gin, Cas, Julia, Tina, Natalie and too many more to list. Please join this motley crew in a remembrance of Ry’s life on Sunday, January 19, 11 a.m. at Synapsis, 1675 Union St, Eureka.