He Was The Rock.
Though not biologically related to the family, 'Pop' was the true foundation of the Ryker household. He met Elizabeth (Gran) long before she became a wealthy chemist, falling in love with her beautifully chaotic mind and giving her the space and unwavering support she needed to figure herself out.
Armed with a psychology degree not for money, but simply because he wanted to help people, Pop spent decades working within the grueling juvenile justice system. He was a guardian, a mediator, and a fiercely protective father figure who raised Ethel with boundless patience.
"He didn't have much money of his own, but he had a kind of structural integrity that couldn't be bought. He saw the cracks in people, and instead of exploiting them, he tried to fill them with concrete."
His loss in the tragic car accident that also claimed Elizabeth was a devastating blow to the community.