Ryan M. Hisey
Ryan M. Hisey, 31, of Rochester, passed away at 5:07 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2019.
In Rochester, on Oct. 15, 1987, Ryan Michael Hisey was born. He was a treasured son of Ricky A. and Penny Sausaman Hisey and was named after Cubs great Ryne Sandberg. Growing up he shared his childhood with a younger brother Bret. With great Warrior pride, he graduated from North Miami High School in 2006, as the valedictorian of his class.
As a youngster, Hisey began developing his passion and honing his skills as a member of the Mexico Little League. The Little League later merged to the Town and Country League. One season he played a combined total of 96 games with his league games at Denver while also playing for the Akron travel team. During Hisey’s baseball years from ages 14 and 15, he was a member of the highly regarded Bullpen Aces. His early high school years Hisey played American Legion ball for Logansport and then Delphi.
During his high school years, Hisey was not only an academic leader among his peers, but he was also active in school government serving as vice-president of his class and student council member. A gifted athlete and great competitor, at North Miami Field, he was a 4-year varsity member of the baseball team. As a flashy shortstop, Hisey covered the ground with speed and eloquence turning the front end of many double plays. With great versatility, he could make the long stretch playing first base or handle the hot corner that is required of talented third basemen. As a right-handed pitcher, he once pitched a near perfect game in the sectional against Northfield thru the sixth inning. Hisey threw an unbelievable 12 to 6 curveball. He was a reliable hitter, with a .350 average while batting third in the line-up, stroking the long ball out of the park. Hisey set school records and held a home run hitting record for several years. During his senior year, he played varsity basketball making many contributions to his team’s successes.
Following his graduation, Hisey went to Purdue in pursuit of a degree in pre-pharmacy. After a period of time, he recognized his love for education and helping students so he transferred to Indiana University of Kokomo to study social studies in secondary education with a desire to coach baseball. During this time he coached little league in Denver and Rochester and was a certified Town and Country baseball umpire. Hisey also tutored kids, fine-tuning their skills on mechanics of base running, fielding and hitting. After his high school years, he also took up the game of golf. This allowed him to stay connected with high school buddies while enjoying some friendly competition. Hisey was a huge Chicago Cubs fan following the Cubs team annually and cheering wildly for their success. To relax, he followed the Colts, and Purdue football and basketball teams: BOILER-UP!
Left to cherish Hisey’s memory are his father, Rick Hisey and fiancé Angie Pendley of Macy, mother Penny Sausaman, brother Bret Hisey of Macy, grandfather Chuck Hisey and fiancé Rosemarie of Inverness, Fla., non-nuclear brother, Joel Burrus and wife Ashley of Rochester.
Preceding Hisey in death are his paternal grandmother Charlene Hisey on Nov. 1, 2016, and paternal grandparents Jack and Marjory Sausaman.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Hisey will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 5, in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 West 18th St., Rochester. Friends may visit with the family on hour prior to the service. A private family burial will be in the Akron Cemetery. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Ryan Hisey Memorial Baseball Fund, % Joel Burrus P.O. Box 526, Rochester, IN 46975. Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.