On Thursday evening, January 18th, 2024, three members of our Washington, DC, house of Cap Corps Volunteers were violently attacked coming home from a prayer vigil on the eve of the annual March for Life in the city. One member, Ryan Realbuto, was fatally shot. The other two volunteers were able to rejoin the fourth volunteer safely at their home in North East DC. Our Capuchin brother, Stephen Cantwell, OFM Cap., was at the hospital with the family when Ryan died.
Cap Corps is our year long Catholic volunteer program for young adults to live in intentional community while serving those in need. Cap Corps is centered around four pillars: Community + Service + Simplicity + Prayer. It was founded 30 years ago and has over 250 alumni who served in multiple cities in the USA as well as in Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea. The volunteers are supported by our Capuchin Franciscan Province of the St. Augustine centered in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ryan graduated from St. Bonaventure University in New York and was working at Don Bosco Cristo Rey, a high school in Takoma Park serving college bound students who fund a portion of their education by participating in a work-study program. Our Capuchin brother Stephen, assigned to mentor and guide the four members of the DC Cap Corps community, said that Ryan was “growing and coming into his own” during his time in the District and had talked about remaining in the city when the program ended in July, possibly to teach or go back to school.
Our Cap Corps Program Director, Margaret McIntyre-Stacy, described Ryan as genuine and pleasant, “he had a real innocence about him." She added that the gunman was apparently trying to rob people “who didn’t have any money. They didn’t take anything from them, other than this man’s life. They didn’t take anything of value, except the most valuable thing.”
On this day, Monday, January 22, when our American church community remembers the great gift of human life, Cap Corps honors the life of Ryan Realbuto and remains focused on supporting his roommates as a community dedicated to service and prayer. Out of respect for his family and friends please respect their privacy during this time of mourning. If you have information regarding the incident, please contact the Metro Police Department.
Join us in prayer for Ryan as he enjoys the promise of eternal life promised him by our Lord and for the peace of his family, friends and our Capuchin community in Washington who bear his loss.
Ryan's obituary has been published by Pittsford, NY's Keenan Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial
Saturday, January 27, 2024
11:00am
Church of the Transfiguration
50 W Bloomfield Rd
Pittsford, NY 14534
A video of a Memorial Mass for Ryan is posted on
the Facebook page of Cap Corps.
