Frank Ryan:
Frank (Francis) T. Ryan, 86, of Easton, MD died February 19, 2026. Frank was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 27, 1939, the son of the late Harry and Dorothy (Kolson) Ryan. Frank was predeceased by his wife of forty-six years, Devote (Hanrahan) Ryan, and is survived by his sisters-in-law, Brigid (Fenton) Hanrahan, Ellen (Balbach) Hanrahan, Alice (Hanrahan) Feneck, and Regina (Hanrahan) Poli, and brother-in-law, Gerry Poli; his cousins, Charlie Guckenberger, Pat (Ryan) Conway, and Ruthie (Guckenberger) Friedman; and special friends, Gloria, John, and Valerie. In addition to his beloved nephew Johnny, he is survived by thirteen nieces and nephews and twenty-four grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. He is also preceded in death by his sister-in-law and her husband, Judith and Robert Graham, and his brothers-in-law, Kenneth and John Hanrahan.
Frank’s early education was in the public and parochial schools of New York City. Before graduating from high school, he decided to become a Dominican priest. He earned his undergraduate degree from Providence College and his Master’s degree from Saint Stephen’s College. He continued his education at the Pontifical University of the Immaculate Conception and was awarded baccalaureate, licentiate, and lectorate degrees in theology. Frank then completed doctoral studies at Georgetown University where he was a university fellow. He also earned certificates in scriptures and in liturgy while there.
After receiving a dispensation from Pope Paul VI to return to the laity, Frank served as a contributing author and editor of The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion, specializing in contemporary philosophy and Eastern religions. He entered the government relations field by joining the Rubber Manufacturers Association and eventually became Vice-President of Government Relations. Several years later, he joined the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as the Director of Federal and State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. In this role, he frequently lobbied for the tire and rubber industries. Frank also served the US Labor Department as a member of the Business Research Advisory Council. He retired from Goodyear in 2001.
His publications both as a contributing editor and author include The Scientific View of Sport, published on the behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Games of the XX Olympiad, Munich 1972, as well as The Dominican Vocation, The Body as Symbol, and A Guide to the Automotive Excise Tax.
After retiring, Devote and Frank moved from the Washington area to the Eastern shore of Maryland, where he enjoyed sailing and serving as a chaplain with the Easton Hospital.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 28th from 10:30-11:30 am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 1210 S. Washington, Street, Easton. A funeral liturgy will immediately follow. Interment will be private. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Fellows, Helfenbein, & Newman of Easton. Memorial contributions may be made in Frank's honor to Doctors Without Borders. He looks forward to a heavenly reunion with family and friends.