Colorado University Athletics
'Ryan's Bench' A Lasting Memory At Folsom
September 23, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Tucked away under a shade tree, just outside of Gate 3 at Folsom Field, sits a bench.
Located literally in the heart of the CU campus, it provides the perfect place for folks to sit and chat, study, take a break, or simply take in the view. It is a sturdy, popular resting point for students throughout the day.
On CU game days, the scene is much more hectic — but still, the bench offers the opportunity to sit and watch black-and-gold decked fans troop into the stadium, ready for another afternoon of cheering on their Buffs. Even in the midst of the hustle and bustle, it provides just a tiny slice of solitude.
And if one chose to do so, the bench would be the perfect place to sit during the game and hear the roar of the crowd, letting the imagination provide the play of choice.
The plaque on the bench is simple but elegant:
Dedicated to the memory of Ryan Joseph Johanningmeier
1-22-1977 — 3-9-2015
"Missing your hand on my shoulder"
We all love you so
Johanningmeier, a former Colorado offensive line standout, died unexpectedly in March at the much-too-young age of 38.
But now, his friends and family say, the former Buff standout can still hear the roar of the crowd, can still be a part of the campus, and can forever be connected to the school and program he loved.
"It just seemed like the perfect spot," said Johanningmeier's mother, Sandy Curfman. "It's sort of like he can hear the cheers and still be a part of it. … It just seemed like him."
Johanningmeier grew up a fan of the Buffs. He attended as many games as possible as a youngster, and after a standout career at Centaurus High School, he jumped at the chance to play for his favorite team.
"It was a big part of Ryan's personality and identity to be a Buff," said former teammate and roommate Adam Reed. "That was true for a lot of us who played there, but for Ryan, it was a really special part of his life. For him to have a permanent place on campus, at Folsom Field — it's appropriate. It just makes sense."
The family dedicated "Ryan's Bench" in a private, quiet ceremony over the Labor Day weekend. Curfman said the concept for the bench came through his uncle, Tom Henson.
"We thought about several different places," Curfman said, "but when we thought about Folsom Field, that was the spot that was Ryan. Now, it's a place for us to see him when we're in town and place for him to be in the middle of something that was so important to him."
While they didn't know each other as youngsters, Reed and Johanningmeier later discovered that they'd spent much of their childhood attending the same CU football games.
"We were those kids waiting for players to throw their wristbands up after the games," Reed said. "We were there when Coach (Bill) McCartney was taking the program up, and having the opportunity to play for the Buffs at Folsom Field was a very big deal for Ryan."
The part of the inscription that reads "Missing your hand on my shoulder" is a personal note from Johanningmeier's uncle.
"Ryan used to put his hand on Tom's shoulder and playfully squeeze it," Curfman said. "He wanted to hear his uncle say 'uncle.'"
It is the location, though, that creates the permanent bond between the player, the program, the campus — and everyone who stops by.
"Outside of family, there was nothing closer to his heart than Colorado football," Reed said. "He got to live that dream. The bench is a tangible manifestation of what he meant and what he continues to be — a Buff."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
