Jack organized the first Bills Family Reunion
and chaired many more.
In Memoriam
(Reprinted from from the Times Union, 11/22/2008)
John
A. Ryan
Ryan,
John A. WATERFORD John A. "Jack" Ryan, 79, of
Waterford, died Thursday, November 20, 2008 at his
residence surrounded by his loving family. Born in
Cohoes, he was the son of the late Andrew A. and Mary
Bills Ryan and stepson of the late Edward Willard. He
was a lifelong Waterford resident and was a 1947
graduate of Waterford High School. He had received a
master's degree in English from Siena College. Jack was
employed by the Internal Revenue Service for 30 years
and retired in 1993. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine
Corps and served during the Korean War, being stationed
in Washington DC at the 8th and I Streets Headquarters.
He was a member of the American Legion, Charles J. Brady
Post 235 in Waterford. Jack was a member of the
Waterford Council 237 of the Knights of Columbus and was
a past grand knight and former district deputy and also
was a member of the Father VanRensselaer Assembly of the
4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a former baseball
coach for the Waterford Youth Baseball League and a
former CYO basketball coach. Jack also was a member of
the Cohoes Senior Citizens and a charter member of the
Waterford Swimming Pool Association. A communicant of
St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Waterford, he
served as a lector there. He was an avid pool player and
NY Yankee fan. Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years,
Helen Barber Ryan; his children, Timothy J. Ryan and Nel
Berdar (Dave) of Waterford; and his grandchildren,
Katelyn, Ryann and Lauren Berdar. He was brother of the
late Mary Anne Higgins. Several nieces, nephews,
grandnieces and nephews and cousins also survive.
Funeral services will be Monday at 9 a.m. from the
Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St. (Rte.
32), Waterford and at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of the
Assumption Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's
Cemetery, Waterford. Relatives and friends may call at
the funeral home Sunday 3-7 p.m. Those who wish may make
contributions to St. Mary of the Assumption Church
Restoration Fund in care of the funeral home office or
Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Ave., Rensselaer, NY
12144.
Ryan,
John A. WATERFORD John A. "Jack" Ryan, 79, of
Waterford, died Thursday, November 20, 2008 at his
residence surrounded by his loving family. Born in
Cohoes, he was the son of the late Andrew A. and Mary
Bills Ryan and stepson of the late Edward Willard. He
was a lifelong Waterford resident and was a 1947
graduate of Waterford High School. He had received a
master's degree in English from Siena College. Jack was
employed by the Internal Revenue Service for 30 years
and retired in 1993. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine
Corps and served during the Korean War, being stationed
in Washington DC at the 8th and I Streets Headquarters.
He was a member of the American Legion, Charles J. Brady
Post 235 in Waterford. Jack was a member of the
Waterford Council 237 of the Knights of Columbus and was
a past grand knight and former district deputy and also
was a member of the Father VanRensselaer Assembly of the
4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a former baseball
coach for the Waterford Youth Baseball League and a
former CYO basketball coach. Jack also was a member of
the Cohoes Senior Citizens and a charter member of the
Waterford Swimming Pool Association. A communicant of
St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Waterford, he
served as a lector there. He was an avid pool player and
NY Yankee fan. Jack is survived by his wife of 57 years,
Helen Barber Ryan; his children, Timothy J. Ryan and Nel
Berdar (Dave) of Waterford; and his grandchildren,
Katelyn, Ryann and Lauren Berdar. He was brother of the
late Mary Anne Higgins. Several nieces, nephews,
grandnieces and nephews and cousins also survive.
Funeral services will be Monday at 9 a.m. from the
Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St. (Rte.
32), Waterford and at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of the
Assumption Church. Interment will be in St. Mary's
Cemetery, Waterford. Relatives and friends may call at
the funeral home Sunday 3-7 p.m. Those who wish may make
contributions to St. Mary of the Assumption Church
Restoration Fund in care of the funeral home office or
Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Ave., Rensselaer, NY
12144.