Thomas Joseph Ryan

Thomas J Ryan, born December 2, 1930 passed away on June 24, 2025. His loving wife, Frances Bergen Ryan, whom he was married to for 62 years and his son, Thomas C Ryan, preceded him. He is survived by his daughters, Jacqueline Barbeau, widow of Terry Barbeau and their children Sean, Shannon, and Sydney and Deirdre Ryan Wilson and her husband, Christopher Wilson and their children, Kelly, Blake, and Luke along with many great grandchildren. His wonderful grandchildren, Nicole Wilson and Rasidi Ryan also preceded him, both of whom he loved so much. Tom was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 2, 1930. He was the son of Patrick Ryan and Mary Winifred Cunningham both of whom predeceased him. He was the oldest of three children; his brother John Ryan and wife Joan Ryan who also predeceased him and his youngest brother James Ryan who resides in Santa Monica, CA with his wife, Rose Mary Ryan. Tom also predeceased his brother-in-law John Bergen and Frances’ half-brother, William Walsh, MD and his wife, Karen. Tom graduated from Fort Hamilton High School, Brooklyn, New York and then received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and his master’s degree from New York University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Frances Bergen, his best friend and schoolmate whom he adored, in June 1953 in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the M.W. Kellogg Company in New York in the early 1960’s and held numerous managerial positions in England, Canada, and Houston, TX until his retirement in 1992. Tom enjoyed his career with Kellogg and always was amazed and grateful at the unstinting willingness his colleagues were to help him gain a better understanding of his role in management and the resultant long lasting relationships he maintained with them up to his death. After his retirement, he became deeply involved in genealogy, particularly concentrating on the early Dutch and British settlers of New Amsterdam and New York most of which involved the ancestors of his wife. Tom updated the voluminous works that Frances’ second great-great grandfather had published on the history of New Amsterdam and mainly on the Brooklyn section of Long Island. Tom also published a work for his grandchildren to acquaint them with the role their ancestors played in the battle of Long Island during the Revolutionary War. Tom was a devoted, caring, and loving husband, father, and grandparent. One of his greatest pleasures was the annual family get-together at the Schlitterbahn water park in New Braunfels each summer. All the children and grandchildren voted this occasion as mandatory and superseded all other trips and events. As the children matured, the family switched to cruises from Galveston, which was another enjoyable annual event. Visitation for Tom will be held at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079 on July 10th at 5:30 PM followed by eulogies at 6:00 PM. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on July 11th at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Graveside services will be held at the VA Houston National Cemetery, Houston, TX at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his granddaughter Nicole’s memory at CampSweeney.org or donations can be made to St. John Vianny Catholic Church.

Thomas Joseph Ryan

December 2, 1930 - June 24, 2025