James Ragan, 20, dies after battle with cancer

By Tina Nazerian     2/25/14 5:07pm

Rice University student James Ragan died Monday, Feb. 17 at his home in Corpus Christi after a difficult and public seven-year battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, according to an email sent to the Rice community by Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson. He was 20 years old.

Rice University student James Ragan died Monday, Feb. 17 at his home in Corpus Christi after a difficult and public seven-year battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, according to an email sent to the Rice community by Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson. He was 20 years old.

 

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Ragan, a Duncan College junior, was a philosophy major, a former member of the Rice golf team, on the board of directors of the Sunshine Kids (a national organization founded in Houston that organizes group activities for children undergoing cancer treatment) and a founder of Triumph Over Kid Cancer (a foundation to raise money for research into "orphan" diseases companies have little financial incentives to develop treatments for, along with his sister, Mecklin), Hutchinson stated in the email.

 

Duncan Master Luis Duno-Gottberg said Ragan was a sensitive, bright young man. Duno-Gottberg said his favorite memory of Ragan was when they were introduced by Ragan’s sister, Mecklin, one of Duncan’s first generation students, and the three engaged in the kitchen, conversing about the things Ragan read and how excited he was to come to Rice and to be a part of Duncan.

 

“In that conversation, I felt like I was talking to someone who was way older than he was,” Duno-Gottberg said. “There was a lot of depth in the way he reflected.”

 

Duncan Coordinator Vicki Woods said Ragan impacted people at Duncan, Rice and beyond with his gentle manner and welcoming disposition.

 

“He truly loved people, and he was a determined young man who made every moment count, even in the midst of what he was experiencing personally,” Woods said.

 

James Hiester, a Duncan senior and James’s golf teammate, said Ragan was a nationally-ranked tennis player when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma while playing in a tournament at age 13. Only five percent of people survive five years, but Ragan had an ongoing mission to find a cure for cancer and decided to use his remaining time to fundraise for cancer research, according to Hiester.

 

“He and his sister Mecklin started the charity Triumph Over Kids Cancer,” Hiester said. “Every year on his birthday they throw a charity toga party, which hundreds of people attend and raises tens of thousands of dollars.”

 

Because Ragan was unable to play tennis after his diagnosis, he took up golf and earned a spot on Rice’s Division I golf team despite his cancer affecting his knee, Hiester said.

 

“To get so good at golf in such a short time is a rare feat even for a completely healthy person, let alone one without a knee and a terminal illness,” Hiester said. “James earned a spot in the lineup numerous times throughout his two years, despite often having to play during rounds of chemo treatment.”

 

According to Hiester, Ragan, who was a huge New Orleans Saints fan and loved watching golf, was writing a book which several publishers are already interested in.

 

“Its last chapter will be called ‘Triumph,’” Hiester said. “James had the unique ability to make everyone feel like his best friend, no matter how old the other person was. He would befriend his nurses, doctors and fellow patients. He would always ask how your day was with genuine interest and loved helping others in whatever ways he could. He solved their problems because they, unlike his cancer, could be resolved.”

 

Duncan junior Giacomo Frateschi said he thinks Ragan will always be remembered as one of the most courageous and inspiring people the world has ever seen.

 

“From the youngest age, he has shown nothing but selflessness and dedication to a cause that few had supported because of the lack of financial incentives,” Frateschi said. “Ever since his diagnosis, James has served as a trailblazer in the field of pediatric bone cancer, and his incredible efforts have allowed for a drastic expansion of research and attention paid to the cause. I hope James will always be remembered for his contagious smile, relentless drive, for constantly keeping his head up in all circumstances and for never giving up.”

 

Frateschi said above all, he thinks Ragan will be remembered for his selflessness and dedication to helping others despite the adversity he faced.

 

“James is truly peerless in his ability to focus on others and on enhancing the lives not only of those he cared about but of all that he could reach,” Frateschi said.

 

Duncan junior Louis Lesser said Ragan was one of the most positive people he had met at Rice.

 

“He was always genuine, kind and thoughtful and remained a devoted friend even when he wasn't on-campus,” Lesser said. “I will miss our insightful conversations about golf and his cheerful demeanor."

 

According to Duno-Guttberg, Ragan was not defined by his illness.

 

“I think [his legacy will be] his tremendous generosity,” Duno-Guttberg said. “He was engaged in activities that would make other people’s lives better … he was emphatic to other children who were suffering the same illness, as he was going through his.”

 

Head Golf Coach Justin Emil said Ragan played in the 2013 Rice Intercollegiate golf tournament when he had been given only a few more months to live, and his doctors had told him he would no longer be able to play golf.

 

“He was able to play well enough to finish in the top 50 individually,” Emil said. “He proved [his doctors] wrong and was very competitive in the tournament.”

 

According to Emil, Ragan did not let his battle with cancer get the best of him or affect how he treated those around him.

 

“James was always able to take the focus off of himself and invest in the interests of others,” Emil said. “He had so many friends in his college, at Rice and in the Texas golf community.  Once people knew his story, they were immediately given a perspective that was highly impactful.” * maybe this can go if it has to

 

Duncan junior Naveen Manisundaram said James was a genuine, caring and selfless individual who valued every moment.

 

“He never wasted time,” Manisundaram said. “He was always focused, whether it be excelling at golf, or raising money or doing well at school to get to Rice; he tried so hard and succeeded at so many different things.”

 

Manisundaram said everyone who was at Ragan’s funeral viewed him as a best friend.

 

“Of course, there were people there who were simply there to pay their respects for the amount that he’s done and his influence,” Manisundaram said. “But the people who spoke, and there were quite a few, all mentioned how he always cared about their lives, and he never wanted to talk about himself. That’s very unique in an individual, especially with such a condition. He never wanted to talk about his cancer. When I was with him, we never talked about his cancer.”

 

On days when Ragan would have a bad scan, he would never bring it up, according to Manisundaram.

 

“The same day he might have a bad scan, he’d ask people how they were doing, how their kids were doing,” Manisundaram said. “I think that epitomizes what James was. He was a very caring guy who had a lot of great friends, and was a great friend to so many people.”

 

Duncan College held a remembrance for Ragan on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

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