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A screenshot of a SupportNow fundraiser for the family of Santa Rosa Junior College student Ryan George, 19, who died in a fall while hiking at Yosemite National Park.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of SupportNow<\/p>\n
A Northern California college student who fell to his death at Yosemite National Park<\/a> was an \u201camazing human\u201d known for his kindness, positivity and warm smile, his wrestling coach said.<\/p>\n Santa Rosa Junior College<\/a> student Ryan George, 19, died Sunday, Sept. 20, after he fell while hiking<\/a> near Glacier Point, numerous media outlets reported.<\/p>\n The college\u2019s wresting program confirmed the \u201ctragic news\u201d in a Monday, Sept. 21, post on its Facebook page.<\/p>\n How did Northern California college student die?<\/p>\n George was hiking with friends near Illilouette Falls<\/a> in Yosemite National Park when he slipped and fell, The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa previously reported.<\/p>\n \u201cGeorge was declared deceased at the scene,\u201d the National Park Service said Thursday, Sept. 24, in a statement to The Bee.<\/p>\n \u201cThe investigation is complete, and the incident was determined to be an accidental fall,\u201d park officials said.<\/p>\n George, a Santa Rosa native and Montgomery High School graduate, had competed two days earlier in the Dave Pacheco Invitational<\/a> at Sacramento City College, according to previous Press Democrat reporting.<\/p>\n Who was Santa Rosa teenager killed in Yosemite fall?<\/p>\n Fred Duerr, head wrestling coach and faculty member at Santa Rosa Junior College, said details about George\u2019s death are \u201climited right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a very difficult time for us to process this loss,\u201d Duerr told The Bee in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you knew Ryan, you know he was one of the most genuine, positive people you could ever meet,\u201d Duerr wrote. \u201cHe had a way of lighting up a room, making you feel welcome and bringing out the best in everyone around him.\u201d<\/p>\n Duerr said George was \u201calways smiling, always encouraging, always full of life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was an amazing leader and wrestler, but more than that, he was an amazing human,\u201d Duerr said, describing George as \u201ckind, loyal, funny, and the kind of friend everyone wishes they had in their life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe love you and we will miss you so much, Ryan,\u201d Duerr added. \u201cThank you for everything you gave us all.\u201d<\/p>\n In a comment on the Santa Rosa Junior College wrestling program\u2019s post, Facebook user Chris Kneis remembered George as a choir member.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the first concert and I noticed that smile,\u201d Kneis wrote. \u201cHe made being in choir cool. I am in shock that we all will be missing this big-hearted soul.\u201d<\/p>\n Fundraisers launched to help Ryan George\u2019s family<\/p>\n George\u2019s grandmother, Valerie George, started a SupportNow fundraiser to help his family<\/a> cover the costs of retrieving his and transporting his body, as well as burial, funeral and memorial service expenses.<\/p>\n \u201cRyan tragically lost his life in a devastating accident,\u201d she wrote on the fundraiser page, titled \u201cHelp Bring Ryan Home\u2014Support Ryan George\u2019s Family.\u201d \u201cOur family is now facing the painful and difficult process of recovering Ryan and bringing him home so that we can lay him to rest with the dignity, love and respect he deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryan George\u2019s grandmother said he was \u201cdeeply loved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur greatest desire is simply to bring Ryan home and give him the beautiful and dignified farewell he deserves,\u201d she wrote<\/p>\n As of Thursday, the fundraiser had raised more than $3,800 toward a $25,000 goal.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Santa Rosa resident Maranda Maybee set up a GoFundMe fundraising campaign<\/a> to help George\u2019s older sister, Jaida.<\/p>\n \u201cJaida is grieving the loss of two family members that came so unexpectedly, on top of it all being a new mommy to her precious Son who is only 2 months old,\u201d Maybee wrote on the GoFundMe campaign site.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to help relieve as much stress for Jaida as possible,\u201d Maybee added. \u201cWe are asking our family, friends and community to come together and help support her during this incredibly difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n George\u2019s mother died weeks before George, and their father died 19 years ago, the Press Democrat reported.<\/p>\n As of Thursday, the GoFundMe fundraiser had raised more than $12,000 toward a goal of $15,000.<\/p>\n 2 dead in Sierra Nevada falls<\/p>\n George is the latest person to die in a fall at Yosemite National Park in the past few months.<\/p>\n In July, 22-year-old Josue Baires Alfaro died after being swept over Nevada Fall<\/a>, The Bee reported at the time.<\/p>\n California climber Jacob \u201cJake\u201d Whisenant, who set a speed record on Yosemite\u2019s El Capitan, died after a fall<\/a> in Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness in early August, The Bee previously reported.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old Mammoth Falls man died from blunt force trauma on Aug. 2, according to the Tulare County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 24, 2026 at 11:22 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n