John J. ‘Jack’ Ryan, Jr.

JOHN J. “JACK” RYAN, JR. – of Woburn, Thursday, April 23rd, former Woburn City Clerk. Beloved husband of Marilyn R. (Mohan) Ryan. Devoted father of Marcia Styskal and her husband Gary of Groton, John J. Ryan III and his wife Cheryl, Paul G. Ryan and his wife Laura, all of Woburn, Robert M. Ryan and his wife Rebecca of Winchester, and Kevin T. Ryan and his wife Lori of Wilmington. Dear brother of the late Louise Ryan, Eleanor Crofwell, and Anna Donohue. Cherished grandfather of Lauren, Brian, David, John, Michael, Elizabeth, Sarah, Meghan, Emily, Paul Jr., Isabella, Thomas, Devon, Jacqueline, James, and Aidan. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Monday, April 27th at 10:45 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 11:30. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to call at the Funeral Home on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Remembrances may be made in Jack’s memory to the Woburn Host Lions Club, Inc., P.O. Box 81, Woburn, MA 01801 or to the Woburn Boys and Girls Club Capital Campaign, 1 Charles Gardner Lane, Woburn, MA 01801.

OBITUARY:

John J. “Jack” Ryan, Jr. passed away after a brief illness at the Winchester Hospital, Thursday evening April 23rd. The beloved husband of Marilyn R. (Mohan) Ryan, he was ninety-three years of age.

Born in Woburn, Jack was the son of the late John J. and Louise (Henchey) Ryan. Raised and educated in Woburn, Jack graduated from Woburn High School along with the Class of 1939.

Jack continued his education at Northeastern University where he attended nights. When Pearl Harbor was bombed Jack immediately enlisted in the United States Navy, where he protected and served his country for four years. Within two weeks and with no boot camp experience, Jack was assigned to a Mine Sweeping Ship (YMS-25). His ship was commissioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York, and Jack was aboard as part of the North Atlantic Convoy Unit.

This ship was totally outfitted, made of wood, for mine sweeping purposes. It covered many sea miles, including convoys of up to a thousand ships in advance of the D-Day Invasion. They continued on to other areas which were also being invaded in the European and North African continents.

For his dedicated and unwavering service to his country Jack was very proud to be awarded a Presidential Citation for his service.

Following the War Jack returned home and completed his education at Northeastern University with a Juris Doctrate in 1949. He opened a law office on Pleasant Street and had also served as a Supervisor for the Welfare Department.

Jack married his lifelong love and best friend Marilyn Mohan, to whom he has been devoted for 61 years. Five children blessed their lives, to whom they were devoted. From academia to sports and personal achievements, Jack never missed a beat with his family. As the grandchildren began arriving and the extension of the Ryan family kept growing, he couldn’t be prouder. Totally invested in the growth of his grandchildren, he and Marilyn were sure to attend plays, graduations, sporting events, and of late college graduations; again Jack was just so proud of them all!

During his retirement years he and Marilyn enjoyed many winters in Naples, Florida where he met new friends and shared a lot of time with many friends there from Woburn! Long Beach, Rockport was their summer destination where many happy summer days were spent.

During Jack’s leisure time he always enjoyed playing a round or two of golf at the Woburn Country Club. Jack had also been a longtime member of the Senior League at the Club where he had won the “Super Senior” Title in 2007, at age eighty-six!

Jack also was a magnificent cook! He derived great pleasure in preparing a great variety of meals for his family and fortunate good friends over the years.

Jack served as the City Clerk of Woburn for the second longest term in its history, 1966-1986. This position Jack served with the greatest amount of professionalism and integrity throughout the years and was extremely popular amongst his fellow Clerks and colleagues. Always a civic-minded gentle man, Jack was truly the best. His involvement in civic and benevolent groups began with the Knights of Columbus; then a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President for the new and first Chamber of Commerce; Woburn Lions Club, having served as President and Grand Marshall during his tenure; President of the Executive Board of the Mass City Clerks Assoc.; one of the initial first board members of the Woburn Boys Club; and board member of the VNA Middlesex East.

Jack always claimed that his greatest reward in life was his wife Marilyn and five of the finest children anyone could ask for.

Jack loved, laughed and lived to nth degree, always being a firm believer in the expression “always leave them laughing!” which for ninety-three years, Jack committed to.

Jack was sadly predeceased by his sisters, Louise Ryan, Eleanor Crofwell, and Anna Donohue.

He is lovingly survived by his wife, Marilyn; his children, Marcia Styskal and her husband Gary of Groton, John J. Ryan III and his wife Cheryl, Paul G. Ryan and his wife Laura, all of Woburn, Robert M. Ryan and his wife Rebecca of Winchester, and Kevin T. Ryan and his wife Lori of Wilmington; and his 16 grandchildren, Lauren, Brian, David, John, Michael, Elizabeth, Sarah, Meghan, Emily, Paul Jr., Isabella, Thomas, Devon, Jacqueline, James, and Aidan. In addition, Jack leaves behind 16 nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held on Monday, April 27th under the direction of the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home.

Remembrances may be made in Jack’s memory to the Woburn Host Lions Club, Inc., P.O. Box 81, Woburn, MA 01801 or to the Woburn Boys and Girls Club Capital Campaign, 1 Charles Gardner Lane, Woburn, MA 01801.