I regret to inform you that PWGM Dr. John W. Ryan joined the Chapter Celestial on Saturday August 6, 2011. Brother Ryan was an initiate of Delta-Sigma chapter (The University of Utah) and served as Worthy Grand Master from 1985 to 1987. He was elected as a Trustee of the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund in 2001.
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Dr. John William Ryan, age 81, of Bloomington passed away early Saturday morning August 6, 2011 at IU Health Bloomington Hospital with his loving family by his side. He was born August 12, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Leonard John and Mary Maxine Mitchell Ryan. Dr. Ryan received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah. He then came to Indiana University and spent two years in Bangkok, Thailand at Thammasat University as a research fellow with Indiana University's Agency for International Development. Upon his return to Bloomington, he went on to complete both his Masters and PhD at Indiana University. Dr. Ryan began his professional career first as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving into university administration in various posts. HIs appointments and positions included; the Secretary of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Vice President of Arizona State University, the University of Massachusetts at Boston Founding Chancellor, the regional campuses Vice President for Indiana University, sixteen and a half years as President of Indiana University from 1971 until 1987, interim President of Florida Atlantic and the University of Maryland at Baltimore, two years in Washington DC with the Agency for International Development, and lastly with the State University of New York Systems as Chancellor. Dr. Ryan leaves behind his wife of 62 years D. Patricia Ryan of Bloomington; daughter Kathleen Elynne Ryan Acker of Bloomington; son Kevin Dennis Mitchell Ryan and his wife Shirley of South Lyon, Michigan; grandchildren Ryan Keith Acker of North Aurora, Illinois, Monica Acker Futrell and her husband Adam of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Kristin M Ryan of Toledo, Ohio, Kelly Ann Ryan of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Kyle Scott Ryan of Eugene, Oregon, a sister, Patricia M. Hallagan of Bloomington, sister Maureen E. Avery of DelRay Beach, Florida, sister Mary M. Haise of Louisville, Kentucky, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Kerrick C. Ryan, a brother Leonard E. Ryan and a sister Ellen T. Amlung. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on his birthday, Friday August 12, 2011 at 11:00AM at St. Charles Borremeo Catholic Church where he and wife Pat were long time members. Visitation for Dr. Ryan will be held at Allen Funeral Home 4155 South Old Highway 37 on Thursday August 11, 2011 from 3:00PM until 7:00PM. Memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Ryan's memory to The John W. Ryan Fellowship Fund with the School of SPEA at Indiana University; Polish Studies at Indiana University; Hungarian Chair at Indiana University, all in care of the Indiana University Foundation, PO Box 500 Bloomington, Indiana 47408; the Sister Henrita Fund at Loyola High School, in Mankato, Minnesota; or the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Home Health and Hospice Program. Online condolences may be sent ot the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org.
Obituary Provided by
Allen Funeral Home
