Raymond “Jerry” Ryan
Raymond “Jerry” Ryan Jr., of LaGrange Park, a history teacher who brought the world into his Chicago classroom, and a husband, father, and grandfather who loved quietly but completely, died Sunday after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 79 and left us almost exactly 8 months after the death of his wife, Nancy (Simon) Ryan.
Mr. Ryan had initially set out on a very different path: At age 14, he took a first step to joining the De La Salle Christian Brothers, a religious order dedicated to teaching the poor. He took the name Brother Cormac, and fate in 1965 put him on Chicago’s Southwest side at St. Paul High School, where he met a pretty young nun who would become his wife. They accidentally fell in love, and love can change everything.
Brother Cormac left for a posting in Kenya, but an 8,000-mile romance played out via typed and hand-written letters.
“I wish you could see the Kenyan stars with me,” Mr. Ryan wrote in November 1970 from Nyeri. “They are nothing without you! I pray for you! I pray for us! I need you! I LOVE you.”
His studies took him traveling from the Kremlin to the Pyramids, but it was that love that changed Brother Cormac’s world. “I will have a rather difficult time being a Brother after seeing you again,” he wrote. “I know that I have not gotten around to formally asking you to marry me, but I will! I think that should wait til I can do it in person. Will I have to get down one knee like in the movies?”
Mr. Ryan left his order and did get down on one knee in her mother’s kitchen. The couple had four children: Elizabeth A. Labrador of LaGrange; Joseph R. Ryan, of The Bronx; Andrew C. Ryan of Boston; and William J. Ryan of Queens.
“Of course those four kids were your idea,” Mr. Ryan teased his wife in a letter for their 30th wedding anniversary. “I’ll take responsibility for the dog! I do think I should also take credit for getting you to see the light and realize that the Democrats are the right thinking party. It took 30 years to counteract your father’s brainwashing.”
Mr. Ryan was a man of habit and discipline whose nickname was the “Sarge,” at Chicago’s Saint Patrick High School, where he taught for more than 40 years and coached volleyball and chess. On a teacher review website, one student wrote, “the class may be difficult but u will learn things you never thought you would.”
Born on Chicago’s north side on November 4, 1938, Mr. Ryan was the third of four children. His father, Raymond J. Ryan, worked as an engineer at a pumping station for the city water department. His mother, Adele (McGrath) Ryan, raised the family.
Although not a natural student, Mr. Ryan applied himself with a rigid discipline. At St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn., he earned a Bachelor’s degree (1961) and Master’s of education (1966). He won a Fulbright to study in Ethiopia (1965) and his graduate work took him to the Soviet Union (1967).
That discipline came to define his life. He woke at 4:45 a.m. to beat the traffic for his drive to school. At home, he corrected his students daily quizzes, often based on required reading in Newsweek magazine. He relaxed in a recliner with a hefty presidential biography or other door-stop-worthy nonfiction tome. He was partial to pretzels, root beer, the sitcoms Barney Miller and Cheers, PBS Newshour, Chicago Bears, and Masses with short homilies.
As his Alzheimer’s progressed, Mr. Ryan found himself increasingly drawn to church, making the two-block walk several times a day to St. Francis Xavier. Although retired, Mr. Ryan also continued preparing lessons for classes he would never teach. His mind had faded, but his heart remained in the classroom, where his impact still reverberates. The mother of one of his students wrote a thank you note eight years after her son’s graduation because he had been selected for a prestigious U.S. Army program in England.
“He attributed his selection,” the mother wrote, “to what he learned in your history class.”
In addition to his four children, Mr. Ryan is survived by his son-in-law Robert Labrador of LaGrange; daughters-in-law Brenna Fitzgerald of the Bronx, Jennifer Peter of Boston, and Clare Ryan of Queens; and eight grandchildren: Owen, Helen, and Nancy Labrador; Jack and Liam Ryan; Clara and Cormac Ryan; and Frances Ryan.
He is also survived by his sister, Mary (Ryan) Reckamp of Carol Stream, and scores of cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends
Visitation is 4 to 8pm Wednesday at Hallowell & James in Countryside. Funeral Mass 10am Thursday at St. Francis Xavier in LaGrange. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Christian Brothers Conference Lasallian Volunteers (c/o Christian Brothers Conference), 415 Michigan Ave. NE Suite 300 Washington, DC 20017. https://lasallianvolunteers.org/donate/
What a wonderful tribute to a very good man. I only knew Jerry for a few years when we taught at St Patrick’s almost 50 years ago. I always had great respect for him as a teacher, colleague and friend.
God bless your family at this difficult time. At least the two of them are together again.
Twenty-five years ago, I was hired at St. Patrick High School to work in Jerry Ryan’s Social Studies department. Today, I am the department chair, but I don’t pretend to fill his shoes. He was a marvelous mentor, colleague, and friend. His first words to me as a fledgling teacher were, “I am not your boss; I am just another guy who’s here to help you.” I have since used those exact words to greet every teacher I’ve ever hired. Jerry’s quiet, confident demeanor informs every difficult decision I make, every interaction with other teachers, and the culture of my classroom in working with my students. Rest assured that Jerry continues to live via St. Patrick High School, not only through all the students he taught, but also through all the teachers, like me, who he inspired. In turn, my students receive his wisdom, patience, humility, and gentle humor in a trickle-down way (sorry, Jerry–I’d make it a Keynesian reference, but I can’t find a way to squeeze that in).
Jerry always spoke proudly and lovingly about his children and his beloved Nancy. While I never met them, I’m fairly certain that one of his children wrote the beautiful obituaries for their mom and dad. As Jerry’s obit mentions, he was known here at Pat’s as “Sarge,” but also as “Popeye,” for his bulging forearms that intimidated many a Shamrock. But of course, Jerry was not a physical disciplinarian; he earned respect through his loving, caring approach, and his unwavering belief that the concepts of history, government, and most importantly, social justice, were the most important lessons in every student’s day.
How I wish I had known about the tender love affair that blossomed between Jerry and Nancy. But that would not have been Jerry’s way. Instead, it is playing out exactly as I would expect: lovingly recreated by by his children, to be revealed as a time capsule, sealed in the cornerstone for later unveiling, as an added dimension to who he was and is, shared by all who loved him and benefited from his scholarship, his convictions, his grace.
I am an exponentially better teacher, parent, and person for having known Jerry Ryan. And so are thousands of other people, whether they know it or not.
Thank you, Jerry, for being another guy who was here to help me.
Prayers to the Ryan family from the Sekula family. Although I did not know Jerry as well as Nancy, my beloved scripture teacher at Nazareth Academy, I saw the love and dedication the two of them had to each other and their children. May God bless Him on his journey Home and I am confident that Nancy will be there to greet him.
“Mr. Ryan” was my favorite teacher when I was a student at St. Patrick’s. His dry sense of humor and his exasperation that as 16 year-olds we weren’t listening to NPR on our commute to school were just two things among many that I loved about Mr. Ryan. Mr. Ryan and his classes were what inspired me to become a History major in college, which led to study abroad and then service with the Peace Corps. Without Mr. Ryan’s ability to make a younger me see how history and political economy are so relevant to contemporary social justice I’d be a totally different person today. Thank you, Mr. Ryan, and thank you to Mr. Ryan’s family for sharing such a wonderful man with the world.
I had Mr Ryan my senior year at St Pats, one of the most no non sense teachers I ever had. I though he hated me to be honest! But at the end of the semester he could tell I was struggling so he made after school studying with him mandatory. I ended up getting a 90 on his final. You were a great teacher and I was lucky to have you.
What a “spot on” and beautifully written testimony to a terrific and gentle man! I have known Jerry for over 60 years, beginning with our Christian Brother “formation days” in Glencoe and Winona, then our many years together at St. Paul and St. Patrick high schools. Ours was a friendship I always appreciated and will forever cherish. Requiescat in pace, my old and good friend!
Thank you for all you taught us, for teaching us to think. You were a well respected teacher and a gentleman. Your class was tough, but fair. You prepared us for life. And most of all you didn’t let us give up on ourselves. Because of you, the world is a better place. Your influence will not be forgot.
I had your Dad as a teacher, no nonsense, kind, passionate and always fair. He taught me in a way that brought History to life. Bless you Mr. Ryan! “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” your Dad appeared for me.
Graduated from St. Pats in 80, thought I knew much about life. I sat in his class with this absolute gentleman and realized- I knew nothing about life.
Mr. Ryan taught everyone what life was about- by example.
As he started every class:
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!
Live, Jesus, in our hearts! Forever!
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Mr. Ryan was also my teacher and volleyball coach. He was a fantastic educator and role model who had a passion for the history he taught. I respected him a great deal, and will cherish the memories.
We didn’t know Jerry well but know and love his son Bill, daughter-in-law Clare, and wonderful granddaughter Fanny. He sounds like a wonderful, kind, generous man and we have enjoyed reading more about Mr. Ryan’s life. Our favorite part is his funny and lovely note from Kenya to Nancy. We are thinking of the Ryan family and sending love from Brooklyn.
To the Children of Bro Cormac and Sr Caritas I was a Student and was taught by both of your parents , I have ofthe though of them wondering where they were living , I wanted to sit and talk with them both tell them How sorry I was that I never took schooling as serious as I should have , there are only 3 brothers from St Paul Hs that made a lasting impression on me , Yor father is one of them , Your mother was a very Happy woman and very pretty too , I realize now that I was not that much younger then them ,,,,, I was in the first graduating class at St Paul’s 1969 , I am so sorry for the loss of both your parents ,,, So now the answer to my question has been answered , but sadly to late Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of both your Mom and Dad ,,,, teachers of thousands of children thank You Lord for having great memories ,,,, PS , Your dad Loved his 4 point quizzes
My Best to you children ,