Mr. John T. Ryan, Jr.

July 4, 1936 - November 10, 2014

Mr. John T. Ryan, Jr., Esq., 78, of Cortland passed away, Monday, November 10, 2014 at Cortland Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family. Born July 4,1936 in Cortland, John was the son of John T. Ryan, Sr. and Martha Currie Ryan and was an area resident his entire life. John attended Cornell University, was graduated from Niagara University and received his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School. John was a practicing attorney in the area for many years with the offices of Ryan & Rumsey and John T. Ryan, Jr. in downtown Homer. He was a member of the Cortland County Bar Association and was Chairman of the Cortland County Republican Committee and recipient of the 2002 Republican of the Year Award. John served as the Cortland County Attorney 1967-1973, again 1990-1997, and also represented many towns in Cortland County. His memberships included Cortland Rotary Club, Cortlandville Grange, Delta Chi Fraternity, Red Cross Board of Directors and Alpha Sigma Sorority's Board of Directors He was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 233. An avid baseball fan, he coached Babe Ruth teams for over 20 years and was a devoted collector of baseball memorabilia. A lifelong fan of the New York/San Francisco Giants, he reveled in the Giants' recent third World Series win in five years. Additionally, John performed in many local community theater productions; he wrote, directed and performed a one-act play portraying David Harum; but his proudest moment was being selected to carry the Olympic Torch through Tipperary Hill prior to the start of the 1996 Olympics. John is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his daughter, Sheila Ryan of Cortland, two sons, Paul (Jenn) Ryan of Bethel, Connecticut and Luke Ryan of Cortland, four sisters, Katherine (Robert) Christian of Naples, Florida; Anne (Richard) Cutia of Etna, Sheila Guinto of Syracuse and Nancy (John) Rocco of Avon, Connecticut, eight grandchildren, Katherine (Cory) Noble, Elizabeth Torti, Annie Austin, Emma, Jed, Kylie, Owen and Nora Ryan and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Ryan was predeceased by his parents and infant sister, Martha. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Joseph Zareski serving as celebrant. Prayers of committal will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Cortland. The family will be present to receive friends on Friday 3-8 p.m. in the Riccardi Funeral Home Chapel. The family has requested contributions in lieu of flowers be made to St. Mary's School http://www.smscortland.org, 61 N. Main St. Cortland, N.Y. 13045.