Peter F. Ryan

Peter was born son of Irene and Edwin Ryan in Utica, New York, on May 16, 1938. In 1956, he graduated Elmira Free Academy in Elmira, New York. Peter then went to Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. He stopped his studies midway through to serve two years in the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan. When Peter finished his service in the Army, he completed his studies at Florida State.

Peter always loved meeting and talking with people. He took this love and built a successful career in sales, starting first with fire trucks and then petroleum at Hess and then ultimately moving to computer hardware. He worked for over 25 years at Control Data, which later became Seagate. Peter was a top salesman at Seagate, and he was formally recognized and awarded for being a top contributor to the company.

During his career, Peter lived in Belmont, Massachusetts, and Moultonborough, New Hampshire. Since 1995, Peter spent his retirement as a full-time resident of Sanibel Island, Florida, and he enjoyed his summers in Truro, Massachusetts. He was a member of Chequesett Yacht and Country Club, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and he coordinated and played in the Chequessett Men's Tennis League. He also played in The Dune’s Men's Tennis League, Sanibel Island, Florida.

Peter had many loves including getting together and sharing a laugh with friends and family, driving his boat fast through the waves, burning a sometimes-too-large bonfire, playing any and all sports, and being silly with his grandchildren. Among his family and friends, he was known for talking and laughing loudly, always having a good story to tell, and joining in a celebration with a Crown Royal on the rocks in hand. Holidays and celebrations with family were always a very special time for him.

Survivors include: Mary Ryan, his wife of 28 years; his children, stepchildren, and their spouses, Garner and Mary Ryan, Audra Ryan, Janna Beth and Patrick Olsen, Edmund Coe, Eleanor and Rick Sinnott, Edna and Butch Bercaw, and Leigh and John Pelletier; his grandchildren, Owen Ryan, Leia, Ella, and Lorel Olsen; Joseph, Luke, and Jennifer Bercaw; and Chris, Alex, and Michael Pelletier; and his sister, Julie Van-Nouhuys.

Peter's family extends special thanks to Hope Lodge in Boston and to the many special friends they made there; the caring staff at Brigham and Women's and Dana Farber Hospitals, Boston, Massachusetts; the hospice workers at the McCarthy Care Center, Sandwich, Massachusetts, and Shell Point, Fort Myers, Florida; and to the many friends who provided their support and comfort throughout the year.

Peter Ryan’s memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Avenue N, Naples, FL 34108. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Peter Ryan's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/involved/donate