Dr. Michael Joseph Ryan Jr. passed away on June 6, 2017 at Bryn Mawr Hospital, surrounded by his loving wife of 52 years, Priscilla Murphy Ryan, and his four children, Michael, Charlie, Kevin and Priscilla. He is survived by his wife, four children, brother, Francis K. Ryan of Kansas City, Kansas, and 12 grandchildren, Keiran, Charlie, Flynn, Theodore, Shea, Emma, Priscilla, Michael, Virginia, Charlotte, Luke and Nicholas.
Dr. Ryan passed away in the Neuro Cardio Intensive Care unit, under the excellent care of beloved doctors and nurses with whom he worked over his 40 year career as a Cardiologist at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Dr. Ryan was born in Kansas City, Kansas on August 16, 1941 to Dr. Michael Joseph Ryan and Mary Goetz Ryan. He was the oldest of four children Kathleen, and Karen who are deceased and his brother Frank.
Dr. Ryan attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, where he was a standout athlete, playing baseball, basketball and was Captain of the football team. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. He was a passionate Alumnus of Notre Dame and was a lifelong fan of their football program. Dr. Ryan graduated from Kansas University Medical School in 1967. After graduation he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy in Goose Creek South Carolina. He bought his first sailboat while living in South Carolina and thus began his lifelong passion for sailing.
Dr. Ryan did his residency at Hartford Hospital and then took a Cardiology Fellowship under Nobel Laureate Dr. Brenard Lown, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dr. Ryan moved his family to Radnor, PA in 1978 to join Cardiology Associates at Bryn Mawr Hospital. He always said it was an honor and a privilege when someone asked you to be their physician. After surviving an emergency triple bypass, in 1987, Dr. Ryan dedicated the rest of his career to prevention. Establishing the Lipid Clinic at Main Line Health. Dr. Ryan worked closely with his dear colleague RN Joan Gibson to develop therapies for preventing heart disease. Their work culminated in the Publication of their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.
He was an experienced sailor, spending time on his boat Alliance in the Chesapeake and Newport. He raced on sailboats in numerous regattas and served as ship's doctor aboard a boat that competed in the Newport to Bermuda race. His other retirement passion was Bridge.
Dr. Ryan was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His wife Priscilla was his best friend and constant companion sailing, traveling around the world, gardening and cooking. He was adoringly known as Pop Pop by his 12 grandchildren, and spent much of his retirement years traveling the world to spend time with them and on the sidelines of their sporting events.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, June 9, 2017 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 and 9:15-10:15 AM Saturday at St. Thomas of Villanova Main Campus Chapel, 800 E. Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085 followed by his Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Dr. Michael Ryan's memory to Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation, 130 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 or to Lumind Research Down Syndrome Foundation, 225 Cedar Hill Street, Suite 200, Marlborough, MA 01742, lumindrds.org.