In Memory

Christopher John Ryan - Class Of 1969

Christopher John Ryan

Christopher Ryan

July 24, 1951 - August 8, 2022

 

Christopher John Ryan passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old. At the time of his passing, he was supported by his loving family, including his companion, Valerie Ryan, his five children (Chris Jr '88, Katie '91, Peter '05, Claire '06 and Shannon '06) and their loving spouses and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in passing by Elise Warfel Ryan '78, his sister Virginia Ryan '83, his parents John and Rita Ryan, and a grandson.

It is difficult to summarize the life of Chris Ryan. He was a devout Catholic, a reflective thinker, a lifelong Dodgers fan, an enthusiastic camper and a prolific gardener of orchids, succulents and staghorn ferns. He possessed a larger-than-life personality and left an indelible impact on everyone from clerks in the grocery store to the dozens of surrogate kids he adopted. At other times, he was introverted, shy and reflective, preferring his hundreds of books to the company of others. He was a lover of restoring old, 1930s Southern California Craftsmen homes and also a keen intellectual who thought deeply about obscure matters of spirituality, literature, philosophy, and morality. He could talk your ear off about the Fall of Rome, Jackie Robinson or the right paint color for a living room. He enjoyed expertise on a complex array of subjects.

Chris was a fixture in Pasadena throughout his life. He founded Christopher Ryan Wallcovering and Paint in 1976, providing restoration of Craftsman-style homes for 46 years. He supported over 50 employees over the years. Indeed, the well-being of his employees was the primary focus of his end of life. Chris had a knack for putting others first, his own employees, or someone he knew was in need of help. He was known for Sunday night family dinners with 'an open-door policy' and where 'anyone could grab a plate'. Many people benefited from his family barbecues over the years, including his kids' friends and extended family.

Born at Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, California, Chris moved along with his siblings Mary '71, Bernie, Kathleen '75, Ann '76, and Virginia '83 to Southern California at a young age. He attended Holy Family School and SPHS. He went on to graduate from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 1973. This time at Loyola cemented his deep and abiding faith in Catholicism and is remembered as one of the fondest times of his life.

Upon graduation from college, Chris returned to SPHS to teach biology and physiology from 1974 - 1977. He described teaching high school students as the most fulfilling time of his life. He was a hands-on teacher who engaged in unconventional teaching practices such as baking cookies with cockroaches and ants in them to get his students' attention. They surely benefited from his creativity as a teacher.

Although Chris became a contractor and no longer taught at SPHS, Chris remained a teacher as well for the rest of his life. He taught his five children how to cook at a young age. He charged each of them with managing dinner solo one night per week. This resulted in, eventually, five kids who ended up pretty good cooks. Chris delighted in reading classic books out loud to his small kids in the living room after dinner. Dodgers Baseball and Vin Scully were always on the car radio or TV growing up. Chris instilled in his kids a deep love of Dodgers baseball, which remains to this day.

Chris loved everything outdoors and everything about the earth around him. He was a steadfast backpacker and camper, and instilled a love of the outdoors in his entire family. At home he kept a coterie of snakes, fish, mice, lizards, rats, parakeets, cats and dogs. He cultivated a wall of staghorn ferns, multiple greenhouses, a courtyard laden with bougainvillea, patios covered in cacti, apricot, avocado and plum trees and an entire multi-acre hillside with natural wildlife. He was the kind of dad who built a tree house for his kids. He was an admirer of trees.

Chris will be missed in so many places - in the pew he occupied at Holy Family Church, at dinners with his kids, and driving around town in his truck. We hope he's giving his Dodgers idol Vinny a big 'Hey Big Chief!' up in Heaven. We hope the Big Guy Upstairs needs another coat of paint on his house. He will be remembered in these larger-than-life stories and the memories he left for those who loved him.

Cabot and Sons Funeral Home, August 15, 2022

 



 
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08/16/22 11:49 AM #1    

Claudia Barner (van Corva) (1971)

Chris was my physics buddy in Mr. Furuta's class He teased me so much about being a sophomore brainiac in a senior science class. Actually he teased me about everything. I appreciated him so much. I was lonely and weird and he was kind. Condolences to his family!


08/16/22 01:44 PM #2    

Robert John Walters (1969)

I remember Chris.  He was a nice guy.  We were not the best of friends and did not do alot together. But, he was my classmate.  And, I was in Mr. Furuta's Physics class too.  Sorry to hear about his passing.  He led a full life.  Rest in Peace !!


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