Say a Prayer for Bob Ryan

The news began to make its way round the internet yesterday afternoon and today it was confirmed: Globe columnist Bob Ryan’s son, Keith, was found dead in Pakistan.

Keith Ryan, 37, was an attache for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Everyone at Boston Daily and Boston magazine sends our heartfelt condolences to the Ryan family.

A long time ago, I had the pleasure of chatting up Bob in the press box at the Meadowlands. Working for a Philadelphia-area paper, I was there to write about Joe Klecko, who was having his number retired by the Jets. Bob was there for a Patriots-Jets game.

Knowing that Bob is the country’s foremost basketball authority in general, and a Philly Big 5 nut in particular, I extended a hand and asked if he had been to the Palestra yet this year. An hour or so later we had dissected every team—the man knew the entire La Salle roster. It was like having a conversation with an encyclopedia. An animated and hilarious encyclopedia. It was one of the highlights of my sportswriting tenure.

God bless, Bob.