Thomas David Ryan
July 4, 1939 - November 13, 2016
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Obituary & Service
Rear Admiral Thomas “Tom” David Ryan (USN, retired)...
Obituary for Thomas David Ryan
Rear Admiral Thomas “Tom” David Ryan (USN, retired) died peacefully in Summerville, South Carolina, on November 13, 2016 at the age of 77.
Tom is survived by his wife, Jane Ann Ryan (Gleixner) of Summerville, SC; his five children Thomas, Jr., Timothy, Jennifer Long, Jeanette Murphy, and Joanne Stallman; and his sixteen grandchildren Elizabeth, Timothy, Rebecca, Ryan, Grace, Nicholas, Andrew, Flannery, Barrett, John, Cormac, Jane, Finnian, Annmarie, Molly, and Onora. He is preceded in death by his sister Diane and brothers Patrick, Daniel, and Gerald of Buffalo, NY.
Tom was born on July 4, 1939 in Buffalo, New York, to Thomas Leo Ryan and Virginia Marguerita Ryan (Stoffel). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1961, and his Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1964 and his Doctorate in Nuclear Engineering in 1974 from the University of Michigan. Tom’s college sweetheart, Jane, attended Saint Mary’s College, South Bend, IN. Jane’s brother, Barrett Gleixner, introduced Tom and Jane during their sophomore year, and they were married a year after graduation in 1962.
Upon graduation and commissioning in the Navy, Tom immediately reported to the destroyer USS Barry (DD933) homeported at Newport, RI. The highlight of his first tour was participation in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Following his initial sea duty and marriage to Jane, the couple moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan for his graduate work at the University of Michigan as a Navy Burke Scholar. His Navy career in the submarine force spanned 34 years and included command of the USS Batfish (SSN681), Submarine Development Squadron Twelve, and as the Gulf War commander of Submarine Group Eight in Naples, Italy. He retired in 1995 from his final tour as the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. Tom earned the highest peacetime military award, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Following retirement, he worked as General Manager for Commonwealth Edison in Downers Grove, Illinois before accepting a position as Director for the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, DC. He finished his civilian career as a Senior Consultant for Cortana Corporation in Falls Church, VA where he was responsible for helping the US Navy obtain the latest technology in undersea warfare.
His legacy lives on as a provider for his children and grandchildren who he worked tirelessly to ensure were educated and enabled with opportunities. He loved Notre Dame and playing snowbird at their condo on Hutchinson Island in Florida. He enjoyed exercising and loved to track their investments. He was known in the Navy for his leadership and dedication to all who worked for him. He loved to vacation with his family and proudly sponsored Ryan family cruise vacations.
Immediate family celebrated a Resurrection Liturgy officiated by Reverend Monsignor Edward D. Lofton on November 15, 2016 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Summerville, SC. A public celebration of Tom’s life and his interment at Arlington National Cemetery will occur at a date to be announced. Condolences can be sent to http://www.charlestoncremationcenter.com/
The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff at The Village at Summerville for their dedication in caring for Tom in his final year of life.
The family requests donations be made in memory of Thomas Ryan to the Alzheimer's Association https://alz.org/donate.asp in lieu of flowers.
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