Patrick J. Ryan

Saratoga Springs - Patrick J. Ryan, 66, of Patricia Lane, passed away peacefully at Saratoga Hospital surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 19, 2008. He was born on March 19, 1942 in Springville, NY to Francis T. and Marjorie L. Youngs Ryan. He grew up in Ellicottville, NY, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout, served as President of his class at Ellicottville Central School, and lettered in three sports. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at LeMoyne College in 1965. There, he met his future bride of forty years, Jeannie O'Malley, whom he married on October 7, 1967.

Patrick began his career in social work, and became a parole officer in 1966. He worked in both institutional parole and field parole. He was among the first civilians inside Attica Correctional Facility when the riots were being quelled in 1971. In 1973, he became a classification analyst at Clinton Correctional Facility, and became Assistant Director of classification and movement in 1981 at New York State Department of Corrections' central office in Albany. Beginning in 1983, Patrick began managing correctional facilities for the State of New York when he was put in charge of the Great Meadow Annex. He ran that facility until he was named Deputy Superintendent of Administration for Ogdensburg Correctional Facility. In 1998, he became Deputy Superintendent of Administration at Washington Correctional Facility, a position from which he retired in 2002. His honesty, integrity, and compassion earned him the admiration of his colleagues, employees and inmates.

Patrick was a member of St. Joseph's Parish, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. More recently he was a member of the Church of St. Peter, where he was a Eucharistic Minister to residents at Wesley Nursing Home. Patrick was a life member of the Liverpool Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a 3rd Degree Member of the Council 246 Knights of Columbus, a former member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and a longtime member of the Wellness Center of Saratoga. He belonged to the American Correctional Association for which he was a national auditor.

Patrick lived in Saratoga Springs for thirty-three years where he was a much-loved husband and father. Out of all of his accomplishments, he was most proud of his close-knit family who brought him great joy and who loved him very much. He was a man of great faith, and a constant inspiration to his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Jeannie O'Malley Ryan; his three sons, Patrick and his wife Noelle Yuen and their children Jake and Jenna, of San Francisco, California; David and his wife Nicole and their son Benjamin of Boston, Massachusetts; and Michael and his fiancée Maureen Toner of Boston, Massachusetts. He is also survived by his mother, Marjorie L. Ryan of New Hartford, NY; two sisters, Margaret Welkley of Rochester, NY, and Mary Carlson of Chittenango, NY; his uncle John Youngs; his aunts, Elizabeth Youngs and Mary Helen Ryan; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, Elizabeth Ryan.

Relatives and friends gathered on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes in Saratoga. The Knights of Columbus members also met at this time at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, April 23 in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway, by the Rev. Michael G. Cambi, associate pastor. Burial took place in the family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery on West Avenue in Saratoga.

Contributions may be made in his name to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY, 10065, directed to Dr. Manjit Bains' esophageal cancer research so that others may be as fortunate as he was to be cured.