William John Ryan

Mr. William John "Bill" Ryan, age 76 years, died peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday Evening, March 11th, 2007. He was born on July 24, 1930, in Manhattan, New York, the son of the late William J. & Marie (Maguire) Ryan.

Mr. Ryan was graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City with the Class of 1948, entered the U.S. Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict as a 2nd Lieutenant. While in Korea he met his wife Terry, who was there serving as an R.N. in a MASH unit. Upon his return he entered into the City College of New York and earned his BS in Physics, with the Class of 1960. He was recalled and served in the reserves until he was honorably discharged in the 1960s as a 1st Lieutenant.

Bill and Terry have resided in Walpole, MA for the past 47 years. An electrical design engineer for a number of defense and technology companies, as well as an independent consultant, Bill retired in 1989. One of the highlights of his career was in working on a project involving a camera used to photograph the planet Mars.

He loved gardening and was a Principal Master Gardener of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for 20 years. He also enjoyed tropical fish and birds, woodworking, and singing in the church choir.

Bill is survived by his wife, Helen T. "Terry" (Alerding) Ryan, his son Bob Ryan and partner Alan Harmon of Severna Park, MD, his daughter Lorrie & her husband Michael Berry of Wenham, MA, his daughter Terri & her husband Fred Barning of Oakdale, CT, his grandchildren Devan and Christopher Berry and Benjamin and Sarah Barning, his brother Walter Ryan of Ronkonkoma, NY, and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated at Saint Mary's Church, 176 Washington Street, East Walpole on Friday Morning, March 16th, 2007 at 9 AM. Visiting hours are Thursday March 15th from 4pm to 8pm at James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. Interment will be at Saint Francis Cemetery, Walpole. Please in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Massachusetts General Hospital Stroke Unit, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, or Walpole Friends of Council on Aging, Building Fund, Post Office Box 186, East Walpole, MA 02032.