Thursday, October 1, 2026
Ryan Icart, a 2026 graduate of Valley Stream Central High School who died suddenly on Aug. 16, was remembered by his family and friends as a compassionate, funny and energetic young man whose warmth and generosity touched everyone around him. He was 18 years old.
A standout lineman for Central's varsity football team, Icart was preparing to begin an exciting new chapter playing football at Monroe University in New Rochelle, where he had earned a scholarship and planned to study finance.
The family identified the cause of death as a blood clot that began in his left foot.
Born on Sept. 25, 2007, to Sara Jean-Baptiste Icart and Ricardo Icart, his family included siblings Eileen-Amadea Icart and Bill Meyer Guenther Icart.
To his mother, he was affectionately known as “Wawa,” the family shared on the Cecere Fullerton Funeral Home website.
“I never met a young person who loved his mother and father more than Ryan,” Tom Schiavo, Central’s football coach, said. "He had complete obedience, devotion, love and respect for his parents.”
Icart spent his early childhood in Brooklyn, and from a young age, his family saw in him an independence and confidence that would remain part of his character. His mother remembered taking him to kindergarten for the first time, expecting the hesitation or tears of a child at that age. But he was ready, walked into school, said goodbye and began his day, she said.
That confidence was matched by the ability to connect naturally with people, according to his family. Even as a youngster, Icart became a favorite among the cafeteria workers at school. It was an early sign of a quality that would follow him throughout his life: Ryan was a people person.
“When you were a part of Ryan’s world, you were not alone,” Jessie Zwicker, Central's dean of students, posted on the Long Island Football History Facebook group page. “A solid young man who was full of integrity, grit, and love of life. This hits hard.”
Icart and his family moved to Long Island around the time he was in fourth grade, where he made lasting friendships and discovered interests that would help shape his future.
He attended Shaw Elementary School and Memorial Junior High School, before graduating from Central High School with a Regents diploma, fulfilling a promise he had made to his mother. It was a commitment he took seriously and an accomplishment of which he was proud.
Since seventh grade, football became an important part of Icart’s life, his family recalled. He loved the competition, discipline, teamwork and friendships that are part of playing and being part of a team. The number 79 that he wore on his jersey became closely associated with his time on the field and remained one of his favorites.
“Eagle football means to me it’s a family; it’s a brotherhood, it’s something that’s going to last you for years to come,” Icart said in a video on the 2025 Central team. “That’s your family. It doesn’t matter who’s in it. Doesn’t matter race, that’s your family for life. And you play till your heart stops.”
His dedication on the football field earned the 6-foot-3, 330-pound lineman a football scholarship to Monroe University, where he planned on continuing to play the sport he loved.
His family said that people would remember him as compassionate, respectful, loving and helpful, adding that he had a good heart and cared deeply about others. A peacemaker by nature, Icart preferred bringing people together rather than seeing them divided. He was creative, full of personality and able to make connections with people from all walks of life, according to his family.
Respect was among the qualities that defined Icart, especially holding a deep love and respect for his father, Ricardo. Even during moments of disagreement or disappointment, his family said, he remained respectful and rarely answered back.
That same respect extended to his teachers and coaches. Ryan developed strong relationships with the adults who taught, guided and encouraged him, and they came to know him not only for his athletic ability and potential, but also for the way he treated people.
Family members said Icart was funny and could be counted on to arrive with a joke, a smile or something that would make those around him laugh. His mother remembered him as someone who was almost always in a good mood, bringing lightness and joy that could be felt by others.
He loved family barbecues, gatherings and a good party, his family recalled. Icart was said to especially be fond of Haitian music and Konpa, and serving as a DJ, setting the mood and making sure energy and laughter filled the room. He loved the music of French Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé, family members said.
“To those who knew him, he will always be remembered as Wawa, No. 79, ‘Mr. Shaketheroom,’ a devoted son and brother, a loyal friend and a young man who knew how to bring joy into a room,” the family wrote.
“Ryan was as pure as innocent and kind and genuine and loyal and understanding and empathetic and inclusive of a person, I’ve ever met, regardless of age,” Schiavo said. “Ryan had no time for bad words. He was all about the good.”
A funeral service was held at the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Roosevelt on Aug. 29. Icart was interred at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale.
To plant a tree in his memory, go to Tree.TributeStore.com.
