Denis Ryan, Veteran Audio Mixer, Dies at Age 60

Denis Ryan, longtime A1 for motorsports on Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN, died Jan. 2. He was 60 years old. Survivors include parents Jack and Margaret Ryan, fiancée Danielle Cody, and sons Jacob Taylor Ryan and Jordan Wesley Ryan. 

A1 Denis Ryan mixed NASCAR broadcasts for 25 years

Ryan, who mixed NASCAR broadcasts for 25 years, was the A1 mainstay for such events as the Camping World Truck Race Series for Fox Sports and the Xfinity Series and Sprint Cup races for NBC Sports. He was also generous with his time and skills for up-and-coming engineers, volunteering his time teaching at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences.

“Denis was a friend first, a co-worker second, and always a steady hand at the helm,” says Kevin Cleary, remote operations specialist, ESPN, and a longtime colleague. “I will carry his wisdom and memory with me forever. His presence will be missed by everyone he touched.”

Karl Malone, director of sound design, NBC Olympics, who had expected to work with Ryan on the upcoming NASCAR season, says, “You don’t get over the passing of someone as wonderful as Denis. He had probably one of the toughest jobs in audio, and, for all the anxiety and pressure that comes with that territory, he was a kind, warm, and affectionate person who always had the time of day for you. That’s a balance not often seen in our industry, and I think about it every day as a lasting testament to him.”

A memorial service was held on Jan. 6 at the Oneonta Worship Center in Oneonta, AL. Comments and condolences can be left on this Life Tributes page, created by his family.