I'm sorry to hear that John has passed away.  He was a wonderful classmate at P&S.  I'm impressed now to learn about hisfull career.  My sympathy to the surviving family members.

Susan Standfast, P&S '61

Dear Joanna, 
My condolences to you and your family.  I am very saddened to read about John's passing.  He clearly has touched so many hearts and lives.  I am lucky in that I know you and John, both professionally and personally.  To me,  John was a patient father and a most respected educator.  I owe so much to him.
He was most instrumental in guiding me through my Chief Residency year.  To this day, I still have a very special artwork that he made. It hangs in my office.  It is a simple artwork, but I look at it every day. I often try to emulate his kindness and wisdom.  I am lucky to have had such a good friend.
Love,
Shahriar

Joanna, I was deeply saddened to hear of John's passing. John and I met in 1941 in the kindergarten class at the Francis Parkman School in Forest Hills, MA. where we spent the next nine years together. While John attended Cathedral High School in Boston, I went to Boston College High School. We both went on to Boston College and graduated with the class of 1957. While our professional careers took us on separate paths, we were reunited at the 50th reunion in 2007. Since then we enjoyed many social gatherings with old friends from Forest Hills including various golf outings as well as social gatherings in Ft. Lauderdale and Naples. Pat and I along with all John's friends from Forest Hills send our deep condolences. He will be sorely missed by all.

Ed Murphy Dedham, MA

Dr. Ryan was a special mentor, ensuring we residents  learned the skills we needed to provide safe care to the precious children who came thorough the MGH ORs, and then take out into the world.  What a legacy he leaves from his thirty years of sharing himself with us, guiding us as he did, always with respect and care.  He loved his work, and he worked with love. My sincere condolences.

John Ryan was a wonderful person, a true gentleman who was always very friendly to the many Australian anesthesiologists who worked at the MGH in the 1970s and 1980s.He was a leader in his field and a terrific teacher. Our specialty owes a debt to John Ryan.

After my son had an MH crisis, John was so kind and calming to me and our family.  He sponsored and mentored a research project that I did, with a great deal of help from him, at MGH.  His soft, kind voice and sharp intelligence stay with me forever.  
My deepest condolences to his family.  Joan Hill, Eastham, MA

Joanna, Merilyn and i want to send you our deepest condolences at your loss. It was a long struggle and you both made the best of it, and enjoyed life to the fullest. We fondly remember our day with you both in Marseilles. John was my great mentor, both for research and for life. I owe him a great debt for my success and will miss him very much.
Paul and Merilyn Allen

As our colleagues have noted so well, John had compassion as his soul and kindness as his personna.The twinkle in his eye and his subtle laugh will always be remembered.It is no wonder he took care of the most fragile and vulnerable of us---our children.
His caring extended to everyone he met, as his personal character embraced all, in whatever capacity he interacted with them. I admire John for his humanity and selflessness and hope I emulated some of his attributes.
This eagle soars high forever,
Jim Quinn

John was a dear friend and wonderful colleague. He was a superb teacher, clinician and human being. His wisdom was always so helpful to me and his sense of humor was infectious. We had so many good times at the Anesthesia Board exams, AUA and ASA meetings. I especially remember taking him and Joanne up into Golden Gate Park on a beautiful day where we could see for miles in all directions: Pacific Ocean, mountains and of course the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco in the background. It was magical and he was so thrilled to have that view. We will miss you so. David and Kathy Cullen

I was a resident in anesthesiology at MGH from 1987-1990.   I must say that Dr. Ryan was possibly the most influential anesthesiologist I encountered in my training.  His kind and calm demeanor, his wonderful sense of humor, and his fine skill at teaching the specialty were all unmatched.   Thank you Dr. Ryan, you will be sorely missed.

John C. Rivard, MD  Ann Arbor, MI

Joanna,   I am heart broken to find out this news.   JFR was like a second father, not only to me, but to scores of other people who knew him.   It was my privilege to have worked for him in the MGH Department of Anesthesia for 10 years - the best 10 years of my life!   And I'm still sorry I sent him to Calgary instead of Toronto.  What a truly lovely, wonderful, caring man and I loved him with all my heart. 

My condolences to you and the kids.    

With love always,

Diane Baranowski

May you have an eternity of joy and happiness for all the love and sincere caring that you brought to so many patients, their families, anaesthesiology residents and colleagues. You will be missed. Que la mémoire des justes et des saints soit une bénédiction.

John is one of the nicest and most caring physician that I've had the honour to work with both as a colleague and as as a student of his perpetually enthusiastic teaching. One of my fondest, personal memories of John is our shared interest in football. He always remembered I went to UGA, and we'd always talk about UGA odds for the season. He always displayed the best of our specialty and will be very much missed.

John was one of my most memorable mentors and an inspiration to me in pursuing pediatric anesthesia.  He taught me to remain calm and return to basics when things go awry, and always maintained a great sense of humor.  I can't think of him and his support during my training without smiling.  The world lost a unique and wonderful soul when he passed.  My deepest heartfelt condolences.  Anita Honkanen

I often think about my wonderful experiences with Dr. Ryna when I was his resident and later as his colleague at MGH. He was bright kind and practical.
Many of his pearls have served me well throughout my career.

Joanne- We are so sorry to hear this sad news. John was a mentor and dear friend who contributed so much to our profession, and will be sorrily missed. Ken and Maureen

Dr. Ryan had kindness as a ribbon of intent woven through everything he did. He was compassionate to the patients. And he was also compassionate to the residents he taught. I remember his spirit fondly.

I frequently reflect on the wisdom he imparted to me when I was his resident and later his colleague on the faculty.  He was bright, warm and practical. He taught how to do complex difficult cases without creating unnecessary anxiety. I treasured my time with him and we will all miss him.

Dr. Ryan was an inspirational teacher, and multi-talented anesthetist. I always enjoyed working with him Whether we were caring for a newborn or a ninety year old, I always came away with several important lessons. Thank you!

John was the most influential and inspirational teacher I had during my training at MGH and is the sole reason I am a pediatric anesthesiologist today.  But beyond that he was the kindest and gentlest person I have ever met, a big bear of a man physically but so sweet and gentle.  I have so many anecdotes and funny and warm stories of John from those years  I could fill a book. 

In my mind John is up there with Fred Rogers in the pantheon of the best human beings.  He touched countless lives, saved countless lives, and his influence will live on and on and on.  I am so very lucky and have been blessed  to have known him.  
 Elliot Krane, Stanford University

Working with Dr. Ryan as an anesthesia resident at MGH is the reason I chose to be a Pediatric Anesthesiologist.  His legendary influence while teaching the art of pediatric anesthesia will never be forgotten

Thank you for all that you did for your patients and us in healthcare. We will always remember you and miss you. Dr. and Mrs. AJ de Armendi

John was a friend and mentor of unparalleled kindness and professional skill.

In the early years of the Kitz department, those of us in training recall Mike, Ed, Henning, Nick, Dave, George as stalwarts, and only need their first names to recognize our relationships as student/teachers.  Dr Ryan was among those, a tremendous mentor, a great friend to the residents, and one of the calmest and most capable physicians in the face of a pediatric emergency.

one of my favorite teachers.  what he taught me was geometrically multiplied in my teachings to my residents over the past 40 years.  significant impact.

A giant of a man in his personal and professional lives that will remain a force for years to come.  

OBITUARY

John Francis Ryan

May 16, 1935 – January 2, 2020

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