Lawrence Barrett Ryan

Dear Marylou and Family, please know and remember you are not alone in mourning the death of Larry. Our shared Christian faith, which Larry’s mortal life mirrored with humility and constancy, is the sustaining assurance that Larry’s immortal life continues in the Heavenly Light and Divine Presence of The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. With my heartfelt sympathy, I am
Yours sincerely and in Christ,
Albert Black

Mr. Ryan will always remain one of the best science teachers I ever had. He always encouraged me to do my best and helped me to pass my Earth Science Regents. He was always quick with a joke, had the patience of Job and loved with his whole heart. I cried. My heart aches with sadness for Mrs. Ryan. 60 years together is a bucket full of memories shared that nobody can take. Kim, I sent a card too late. The thought was a prayer for healing. God wanted him more. But I think of him and smile. Kim he loved you and Barrett so much. I’ll never forget the smile on his face on your wedding day. He had his wings a long time ago. May you all find peace, and may God hold you close in the moments ahead. I’m sending hugs across the miles. BRCS was all the better having him grace their halls. May he rest in peace. Love always, Ann

Too bad I didn’t do this when you were still with us

an excellent teacher makes the world a better place

No one will know, maybe not even Maryann, that Larry and I were rebuked by Dean Eric Faigle for holding hands in the Hall of Languages. He changed his mind about telling our parents when he looked up our grades!!!!

We met at Syracuse University in September 1958 at the Freshman Mixer, a dance to introduce the new members of the freshman class to each other.

Dear Marylou, Kim, and Barrett,
I think of Larry with fond memories from BRCS, where I got to know all of you. Across the hall I would see Larry always busy and willing to help everyone. He was the best at his profession and am sure students loved him. Marylou you too had the command of you field and were highly regarded. Kim and Barrett, I remember you both in my class. I recall thinking you were most polite, very bright and so down to earth. I remember thinking what a nice family.
It is with deepest regards and immense respect I will remember Larry. Dear ones, may you find solace in the fond memories you will recall and think of him, a life well lived and made a difference in the lives of those he came in contact with.
With best regards,
Cathy Roshan Khan

When Larry & Marylou lived in Castorland N.Y. he was a member of the Castorland Fire Co. in the 70’s and 80’s. He was a good fireman & quite active. We would like to send our condolence’s to his family. Members of the Castorland Fire Co.

Stunned. I messed up last fall when I was in Maine, making the decision not to do a surprise visit! Now I leave my heartfelt thoughts for your family & friends. How can a revered hero from your youth leave us? They’re just supposed to live on! The many tributes & accolades about you reflect the special heart & soul of my “Mr Ryan”. Blessed to have you for a teacher twice, it felt you made each of us the focus of your attention at that moment. Encouraging smart girls to be smart before STEM was emphasized. Thank you. Your humor, tolerance, innate teaching skills, intellect without arrogance, acceptance of others~ what gifts you were blessed with and which you put to wonderful use! You let some of us notable geeks hang out doing physic labs (right…) where we were able to know you as a person; those days still remain some of my most cherished BRCS memories.

I imagine life was never dull in your family. And what a life it was– you struck me over the years as a Renaissance kind of man from travels, greenhouses, volunteer fire department, fairy villages……!

While you’ll be missed, hoping the outpouring of grief, sympathy, support and love from so many whose lives you influenced and touched comforts your family in some small way. Farewell kind sir, you were one in a million. Deb Peters

Our prayers and condolences for the Ryan family at this difficult time. Larry has left us with such fond memories of his time in community theater with us and other related activities. Thank you for those memories Ryan family!
Our deepest sympathy, Lisa & Dennis Fallo

Dear Marylou and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I was so sad to hear of Larry’s passing. I pray that your memories of Larry, as well as those of many people throughout the world, will soon overpower the grief you feel.

I knew Larry through the GLOBE Program – we worked together at many workshops around the world and across the US.

Larry was my high school physics teacher and our senior class advisor at Beaver River Central School in Beaver Falls, NY. I really enjoyed his class. He really lit up talking about science and had great pride in obtaining a calculator with one unit of memory. My how times have change.

Dearest Marylou and family,

Extending my deepest sympathy for your loss. Larry was a beacon of light, and his Faith in the Lord was his foundation and what motivated his words and actions. Ever ready to listen, share a story, or lend a helping hand, he was deeply involved at Holy Spirit Parish. I’m privileged to have known him and to call him a good friend.

Larry Ryan was not only one of my favorite teachers at BRCS, he was also the father of one of my oldest and best friends. I remember doing homework, especially physics homework, at the Ryan’s home in Castorland. Larry and MaryLou would often grade papers at the same time. They were the first family in our village to own a computer. I remember Mr. Ryan proudly showing it to me and saying, “It won’t be long before every house in America has one of these!” Of course, few believed that 40 years ago. He also said he couldn’t wait for the day he wouldn’t have to lug home all the lab notebooks. “One day I’ll just bring home one of these!” he said, while pulling something out of their computer that he called a floppy disk. I also remember how he made science come alive. For example, he didn’t tell us about the ring of fire, he let us discover it on our own by plotting earthquake locations on a world map. As an educator myself now for nearly 40 years, I realize now how far ahead of his time he was. What I remember most about Mr. Ryan, though, was how much he adored his wife and children. He was so proud of them. The look on his face as he walked his Kim down the aisle on her wedding day is still etched in my memory. My husband and I send our deepest sympathies to the far-reaching members of his fan club, especially Mrs, Ryan, Barrett, and my dear, sweet friend of 56 years, his amazing daughter, Kim.

So sorry to hear about Larry’s passing. He was both my teacher in high school at Beaver River and my mentor when I was hired to work there with him. Larry was very funny – he had a great sense of humor and was also one of the kindest people I know. He and Mary Lou were always welcoming and loved being with people. I also enjoyed Barrett, who has his Dad’s sense of humor along with his kindness – they are an amazing family. Mary Lou – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Rest in peace Mr. Ryan. Earth Science was one of the few classes I looked forward to in HS and you were the main reason. You were part of the great generation of teachers at Beaver River and so many of us are lucky to have received your guidance.

I met Larry through the GLOBE program in Bahrain in 2002. No words can suffice to describe how marvelous of a teacher he was. Learning about satellite imagery and GIS from Larry was a joyful revelation I was a high school junior at the time with big dreams to go to the US for university but without the financial means to do so. Larry explained to me that I could apply for scholarships offered directly by universities and told me to study for SATs. Despite everyone’s deep skepticism I followed Larry’s advice and actually got my scholarship. My freshman year of college I took a road trip from St Louis to Kennebunk with a couple of friends and stayed with Larry and Marylou. My fondest memory is of the sloping roof in the room where we stayed, and going downstairs in the middle of the night to eat most of an incredible apple pie with walnuts that Marylou had made.
I wish I had stayed in touch more after graduation. Thank you so much Larry for everything. I owe you so much of where I am today. My life would have turned out very differently if it weren’t for you.

I was just telling my sister how special Mr. Ryan was to me as a teacher. I’m so sorry that I didn’t realize he had passed away. I should have told him sooner how much his kind words helped me through my teenage years at BRCS. He was a teacher who inspired me in my own teaching. I like to think I was a better teacher because of him.

I am so sorry for your loss, Larry was always so kind and caring. He spoke fondly of his family and hobbies. I remember he would always have a picture of his grandkids as a background on his laptop, and tell stories about how proud he was. He was an amazing individual and will be missed greatly.

Mr Ryan was our beloved teacher and the best class advisor and mentor any class could ask for.RIP Mr Ryan we all love you.thank you for the best high school years. BRCS class of 1972