We have loved reading all of the stories shared about Riley, and we hope they bring you peace in remembering who Riley was, the joy he brought, and the care he had for those around him.

Remembering Riley

  • "It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Riley. I vividly remember the first meeting Riley on the Cha Beom soccer fields during ECLC days. I marveled at this kid, so full of energy, squealing with joy, racing up and down the field. Right away, I knew this ball of energy would get along with my own rascal, Nicky. I was absolutely correct. That new boy on the soccer fields quickly grew into a 2nd brother to Nicky and, not surprisingly, a 3rd son to our family. Riley always felt comfortable in our home…so much so that, during his first sleep over, he gifted us a warm puddle of pee in our bed. At SFS, these rascals, Nicky and Riley along with Justin, Henry, Brandon, Ryan, Alex, and others formed the “Munchkins” with Nicky (unbeknownst to me) as self-appointed leader. When Riley told Aunt Tutu that “Nicky is the boss of me”, Aunt Tutu set him straight and said “Nicky is NOT the boss of you. AUNT TUTU is the boss of you!” For years, I loved seeing Riley’s little sneakers (latest Nikes of course) in our doorway…along with those of all the other boys. Over time, these little Nike sneakers gave way to more serious snowboard and volleyball gear. The Sunday afternoon volleyball sessions at the Itaewon gym and the winter weekends at Yongpyoung were pure joy that we experienced together with our kids. Our one big family of choice. Whenever I think of Riley, I will hold these precious moments of laughter, joy, brotherhood, and community close to my heart. Cha Beom soccer, weekend snowboarding trips to Yongpyong, volleyball practice, League of Legends, and poker nights, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Lunar New Year’s dinners, and countless birthdays. These memories are etched in my heart forever. I will remember Riley for his warm heart, gentle spirit, and the joy he brought to those around him. His delightful silliness brightened even the most ordinary moments. Whether through a playful comment, a mischievous grin, or his ability to make others laugh when they needed it most. One memory is of him greeting me and Cindy one serious morning with “Hello Betty. Hello Cindy.” Of course, we did a double take and gently said “You mean “Aunt Betty and Aunt Cindy right?” As he slowly walked away, Riley simply gave us his classic wry grin. Riley was family.... His presence was a constant and welcome part of our lives. Our home felt brighter when Riley was there, and the bond our family shared with him and the Kwak family will forever hold a special place in our hearts. While we grieve the loss of his presence, we are grateful for the countless memories he leaves behind. Riley…we are so very saddened by the loss of your presence. May you find comfort in the memories you shared and strength in knowing that your spirit lives on in all who were fortunate enough to know you. You will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and forever loved by our family!

    Uncle Jae, ""AUNT"" Betty, Max and Nicky.

  • Riley and I shared moments on the courts during the varsity volleyball tryouts back in 2017, but he, despite only being a freshman, really demonstrated how an impactful individual and man he could be. His smiles were so crystal that they continue to be vivid in my memories today. Rest in peace, Riley.

    K. K.

  • Riley was a very bright and energetic individual. I'd always speak to him in Korean as a joke and he'd always not understand and laugh about it. He was someone that I always respected and happy to see whenever and wherever. We would always greet each other with genuine joy. I will remember him with gratitude and warmth. I hope he is at peace, and I send my deepest condolences to his family. 이제 하늘에서는 행복하게 웃으면서 고통 없이 쉬기를 .

    Aiden Suh

  • 라일리 어렸을때부터 졸업할때까지 스쿨버스 모니터를 담당했었습니다.언제나 버스에 웃으며 뛰어오던 모습이 아직도 눈에 선합니다. 밝게 인사해주던 라일리 모습 영원히 간직 할께요~ 하늘나라에서 편히 쉬길 바랍니다.

    김민준

  • I taught Riley in 11th and 12th grade English, and I always appreciated his energy and his sense of humor. As part of a class assignment, Riley produced this short podcast: ""Benefits of Sport in High School Communities"" featuring Claire, Angie, and Mrs. Black. It's well done. And it might be nice to listen to if you're missing his voice or feeling nostalgic for SFS athletics. Big hugs to all of Riley's family and friends. https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ZSXySvVNuML4-dt781e8-3o84tQ_n83/view?usp=sharing

    Alisha Feitosa

  • Riley was such a nice, funny, and caring person. I grew up with him around since we both attended SFS (class of ‘21) from a young age. I always thought of him as the funny cute boy. I grew close to him in 2019 on our Philippines Service Trip for Discovery Week. We were placed in the same team which we called Smoove. I was so excited to be placed in the same team as him. I always admired him from afar and wanted to get to know him. He was so funny, always making our team laugh and brightening up every moment. We even performed a song for everyone and did acapella, Riley was so enthusiastic and supported me in trying to get the group to put in more effort. Not to mention he had a beautiful voice. Following the trip, I chatted with him frequently and we shared things about our lives to each other. He heard me out about my struggles and tried his best to understand my situation and support me. He also shared some things with me and as someone with mental health issues of my own, I knew he needed love and support. I tried my best to keep talking with him and I really wanted to stay connected but eventually we grew apart. A lot of my memories from high school and SFS in general have faded but I really thought about Riley a lot and enjoyed every moment I had with him. After graduating, I thought about him from time to time, hoping he was doing better. Never did I think that I would receive this news. Thank you for everything, Riley. You made a difference in all of our lives and you will be remembered forever.

    Ekat

  • Riley was the sweetest kid. I still vividly remember the memories I had with him on the Hannam Dong school bus in 2nd grade. I think it was the N bus or the B bus. He would beg me to play Mario and Kirby on my Nintendo DS. I told him he would only be able to play if he beat my levels for me. And he beat them everytime. I would fall asleep on the school bus everyday, Riley playing my Nintendo right next to me. My stop was first, so he would yank me awake when it was time for me to get off. “Connie! You have to get off NOW!”. I would run off the bus as the bus driver is yelling at me to hurry. Riley would say “Bye Connie see you tomorrow!” like a true school bus buddy. I remember I’d go home and realize that before my stop had arrived, Riley had always already put my Nintendo back in my backpack for me while I was sleeping. I told Riley to ask Santa for a Nintendo for Christmas because I was “annoyed that he always used mines “. But really, it was just so that I could play on the school bus with Riley together instead of having to share one. Once Riley got his own Nintendo DS, we had so much fun ever afternoon. There was even one time Riley convinced me to get off one bus stop later just to play Mario Kart with him in the UN Village playground and I totally said yes without any permission. I got in so much trouble for not telling anyone where I was. I think my ajumma found me and Riley on the playground bench with nintendos in our hands and Henry’s little dachshund dogs on our laps. Ten years later I remember I ran into Riley at school in high school, and we pretty much hadnt talked for all ten of those years after i moved out of Hannam dong. Before I even said anything, he brought up our memories on the school bus and about how I used to make fun of him everytime he lost Kirby. I was so surprised he remembered it too because we were so young, I was 7 and he was 6. I felt like I had reconnected with a childhood friend… a good childhood friend. SFS is weird like that, how could we have not spoken to each other for ten years while going to the same school? I really miss those times and cherish the full year of fun we had as school bus buddies. I miss you Riley, you were so sweet and thoughtful to everyone around you, and I know everyone only ever had good things to say about you. Even as a child, you were so pure and sweet to me on the school bus everyday.

    Anonymous

  • I remember Riley as a happy boy who was always smiling and was so full of life! We love you so much and will always miss you, Riley! Sending lots of hugs and prayers to Gracie, Sandi and Peter! "In the journey of life, some souls shine brighter and leave us too soon."

    Mrs. Lakhiani

  • I remember talking about this childhood game that both me and Riley played, he was surprised that I also played that game because it wasn't very popular. I was really happy to share a common interest and talk with him about it.

    John

  • Everyone knows I love Riley- and I take care of him always. On the day of his graduation, he may have had too much fun and left his graduation dipmoma on his chair. Even before he realized it, he was more excited that he was Instagram friends with me and was messaging me whether he can call me ‘Soora’ now. I had to send him a photo of his diploma left on his graduation chair through his IG messages. Sigh :) I always took care of my Riley.

    Soora Koh

  • Some people leave an impression on a classroom. Others leave an impression on an entire community. Riley was one of those rare individuals whose enthusiasm, curiosity, and joy touched everyone around him. Riley truly lived and breathed Sports, Exercise, and Health Science (SEHS). His passion for the subject was infectious. My job was easy because his excitement for learning drew others in, encouraged genuine discussion, and brought such a positive energy to each class. Riley was so curious, never satisfied with simply learning information ~ he wanted to understand it deeply, connect it to his own life as an athlete, and share it with others. He came alive during labs and hands-on learning experiences. He was always willing to volunteer, take initiative, and lead others. One particularly memorable example was when he enthusiastically led a brain dissection activity for a group of elementary students during a lunch break. Riley embodied the belief that learning should be both meaningful and joyful. He recognized that curiosity and wonder are not distractions from serious work—they are often the driving forces behind it. He embraced challenges not because they were easy, but because they offered opportunities to explore, question, and grow. His love of knowledge was genuine, and his excitement for discovery inspired everyone around him. Beyond the classroom, he inspired the next generation of Crusader athletes. My boys were passionate fans of his on the volleyball court, and they frequently “practiced” at home by imitating the team. My oldest son, four years old at the time, would tell me “I’m Riley” as he played, but he always forced his two-year-old brother to “be” a different player on the team. Riley was reserved for him! Of course, this is not just because Riley was an outstanding athlete, but also because he made the time for them, saying “Hi” to them at games, and treating them as if they were VIPs. This is how Riley made everyone feel ~ that they were noticed, important, and worth becoming friends with. His bright smile and bright eyes are what I’ll remember the most, because those were the invitation to everyone, including me and my family, to share his joy.

    Stephanie Black

  • If there’s one thing I remember from when Riley and I were little, he was always smiling! He was one of my first friends in Korea, my favorite playmate, and even my first crush! I remember when Riley asked me to marry him when we were 4 or 5 years old! That smile and that day will always be carried in my memories! Love you Riley!

    Anna La Forest

  • Gracie once told me that she and Riley regularly peppered with a volleyball in their yard after school or on the weekend. I was in awe that these siblings would do that since I didn't even do it with my two sisters...who also played volleyball. I felt that their relationship had to be pretty special. Any time I saw Riley, he always had a smile on his face.

    Kristen Creech

  • I met Riley towards the end of my sophomore year of High School. I remember us bonding about the way our eyes both disappear when we smile. Riley was so easy to talk to, and his smile was infectious. He was also so good at volleyball! He was a senior who was so approachable and made me feel so included, the few times we interacted. Rest in peace, Riley. I'm so grateful I got to meet you

    Keahi B

  • When I think of Riley, I remember his laughter. I remember how he would run to his dad the moment he saw him, throwing himself into his arms with pure joy. I remember how happy he was after school, saying that the cookies his mom made were the best. I remember the bright smile on his face whenever school holidays were approaching because it meant he would soon see his sister. I also remember how he would tell me about the little things in his daily life, laughing and chatting with that playful smile of his. These are the memories I will always treasure. Riley’s pure heart, kind spirit, and beautiful smile will remain in our hearts forever. Though he is no longer with us, the joy, warmth, and love he brought into our lives will never be forgotten. We miss you, Riley, and we will remember you always.

    Sally (Riley’s Korean Teacher)

  • I was Riley's 7th grade ELA teacher at Seoul Foreign School. His smile was contagious, and he loved being with his friends. What I remember most was his ability to make people laugh and bring people together. Riley was funny, and incredibly social. He enjoyed being part of every conversation and had a way of making ordinary moments more enjoyable through his sense of humour. Riley brought life and energy to our classroom every day. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. My heartfelt condolences go out to Riley's parents, his sister Gracie, and all who loved him.

    Mrs. Bookhamer