In memoriam: Ryan Timothy McGuinness, a senior majoring in architecture

Editor's note: An on-campus memorial service for Ryan Timothy McGuinness is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Virginia Tech's War Memorial Chapel on Drillfield Drive.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 5, 2014 – Ryan Timothy McGuinness of Lopatcong Township, New Jersey, a senior majoring in architecture in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, died Aug. 2.

McGuinness was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Lopatcong Township. He was an honors graduate of Lopatcong elementary and middle schools, and high honors graduate of Phillipsburg High School. He had completed four years of the five-year architecture program and was anxiously awaiting his final year at Virginia Tech.

He studied abroad, spending the fall semester of his most recent school year studying the great architecture of Europe. At the time of his passing, McGuinness was completing his summer internship in Washington, D.C., at Smith Group JJR, a large multi-national architecture firm.

Upon completion of his studies, McGuinness looked forward to pursuing an exciting and fulfilling career creating innovative building spaces.

He was a participant in several sports while a student in Lopatcong, and was a member of the Phillisburg High School outdoor and indoor track teams. He was a pole vaulter, and he was chosen a captain of these teams during his senior year.

In addition, McGuinness was an avid fan of several sports teams, especially loving his Virginia Tech Hokies and the New Jersey Devils.

McGuinness was a member of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, where he was a valued and loved member of the congregation.

McGuinness was the beloved son of Timothy McGuinness of Easton and Debra Shepherd McGuinness of Lopatcong and the cherished brother of Dr. Brianne McGuinness of Lopatcong Township and Jillian McGuinness of Philadelphia. He was also the treasured grandson of Joan McGuinness of Williams Township, Pennsylvania, and Muriel Shepherd of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. He was pre-deceased by his grandfathers Robert Shepherd and George McGuinness. McGuinness was held dear by his aunts and uncles and his cousins, all of whom he shared a great friendship and kinship.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. in Doyle Devlin Funeral Home, Inc., 695 Corliss Ave., Phillipsburg, NJ. Funeral services will be held Wednesday August 6 at 11 a.m. in Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, 750 Belvidere Rd., Phillipsburg NJ.

Offer online condolences may be made at the at Doyle Devlin Funeral Home website.

Memorials may be made to the family, in care of the funeral home, to establish a scholarship in Ryan's name at Virginia Tech.

This story was provided by the family of Ryan Timothy McGuinness.