Patrick Wilbert Ryan

Our family shares the loss of our strong, funny, and loving Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, and Friend. Patrick Wilbert Ryan was born in White Plains, New York, on August 24, 1944, to Thomas Leo Ryan and Edith Mae Ryan. He lived his entire childhood in the same home with his now late brothers Thomas Ryan, Jr. and James Ryan, and their younger sister, Mary Jane (Ryan) Walker who he absolutely adored. Pat was a survivor, and we joked in recent days that he had nine lives. Plagued by polio as a child and a victim of Agent Orange during his service to our country, Pat lived life to the fullest until his health began to deteriorate a decade ago. Still, he marched on, defying odds in many instances and insisting he was ‘Superman’ deep into the days of his illnesses and ailments. Anyone who knew him would attest to the fact that Pat was a larger-than-life character. The life of the party, he loved to joke, and his hearty laugh filled the room and made everyone around laugh, too. Pat spent four years in Vietnam aboard the Navy’s USS Regulus, and was a proud veteran. He loved his ‘things’ – he had a special store for bread, more shirts than there are days of the year, hats that told the story of his life, and, of course, diet Mt. Dew in hand at all times. His collections brought him so much joy – whether it was coins, football cards, antique or sports memorabilia, comic books, carvings of mountain animals, or watches, he loved to show off his latest acquisition or tell the story of something perched on one of his display shelves. Pat loved playing golf in his younger years and later enjoyed watching it along with baseball (a Yankees fan through and through), football, and basketball. He loved woodworking and was fascinated with Egypt and its history (though anything on the History Channel could grab his attention for hours). Most of all, Pat loved his children and grandchildren – family meant everything to him. His most meaningful memories were always of special times with his children (and their spouses) Georgette (Kenneth), Melanie (Andy), Shanna, Stephanie (Piotr), and Patrick (Alyssa), his eight grandchildren Jack, Madeline, Julianna, Justin, Lindsay, PJ, Lukasz, and Carter, his former wife Suzanne Ryan-Biggs, and his siblings, nieces, and nephews. He was ‘Dad’, ‘Daddy’, ‘Grandpa’, ‘Pop’ and ‘Pop-Pop”, and nothing lit up his face like seeing one of his grandchildren. Pat missed Florida terribly, so we’re comforted that he’ll return there to be laid to rest later this winter. We like to think that he is back doing what he would love - riding in a convertible with the top down…sunglasses on…listening to 70s classic rock…along a Florida beach road. If you are so moved to honor his memory with a donation that would be meaningful to him and to our family, click here to donate to the American Kidney Fund to help fight kidney disease or click here to donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America to help secure the care needed for these special veterans.