Ryan Darrel Van Aken, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, died of heart failure on July 7 at Castle Hospital in Kailua, Hawaii. Word of his death spread so fast that hundreds of people in the area who knew him gathered for an impromptu memorial service.

He was a former resident of Bainbridge Island and Sammamish, Wash., where he attended high school. He also attended Seattle Central Community college.

He was a senior .NET and Web developer for Aloha Island Inc., a video game and software development company in Honolulu. He also held computer development positions with other companies including Thinkview Incorporated, Microsoft Corporation and Washington Mutual. He was a published author who had mastered 23 computer languages; completely self-taught, he could become expert in a computer program in weeks. He also took a leadership role in an inventors’ club, developing computer gadgets.

He always held concern for others, was involved in political causes and had a strong sense of family. He also had a wonderful sense of humor and loved a good laugh.

Although he died at a young age, he had a multitude of friends owing to his tremendous ability to relate to people on all levels and of all ages. He was fiercely loyal to his friends.

He is survived by his fiancée, Shannon Dwyer; his son; his parents, Morgan and Vikki Van Aken; his siblings, Peter (Anne-Claire) Van Aken, Brad (Jenny) Van Aken, Patrick (Sarah) Van Aken, Ashley (Brandon) Frandsen, and Alicia Van Aken. He also was survived by 11 nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service at 2 p.m. July 18 at the Bainbridge Island Ward building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Interment will follow on Bainbridge Island.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ryan’s name to Cook Family Funeral Home, P.O Box 11109, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Online condolences and stories may be shared at morganv33@hotmail.com. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.