CHATEAUGAY -- Pearl Harbor survivor and retired Franklin County District Attorney the Hon. Joseph J. Ryan, Sr., passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. As all warriors deserve to, he died at home in his sleep. He was 90, and just the day before, received news that he was a great grandfather.
Born in Pittsford, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 1917, Ryan grew up in the Bronx and spent summers on the family farm in Chateaugay. After high school, he worked as a "sand hog" building the aqueduct tunnels that supply water to New York City.
In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Navy and subsequently was assigned to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed when the Japanese sneak attack occurred. He served the duration of World War II in the South Pacific as a radioman first class on the USS Denver, a Light Cruiser that saw heavy action in 11 major sea battles, was torpedoed and earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet Harrigan of Chateaugay. It's interesting to note that he, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, was on leave and in Times Square on V-J Day, when the Japanese formally surrendered.
After the war, Mr. Ryan attended Paul Smith's College in Saranac Lake, graduating with the Class of 1949; and he earned his law degree from Boston University Law School in 1952. Passing both the Massachusetts and New York bar exams, he returned to Saranac Lake as an attorney with the law offices of Hayward "Red" Plumadore. In 1955, he joined the Legal Department of 5th Avenue Coach/Surface Transit in New York City. In 1962 he moved his family back to Chateaugay, where he built his law practice as a "country lawyer." From 1965 thru 1975 he served as the first public defender of Franklin County. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney, a position he held until his retirement in 1984.
At age 68 he realized his life-long dream of becoming a pilot, by earning his FAA Student Pilot's License, and he continued to fly airplanes until age 73.
His years of community service include: Chateaugay Town Council, commander of the Chateaugay American Legion and Grand Knight of the Chateaugay Knights of Columbus. At the time of his death, Mr. Ryan was the senior member of the Franklin County Bar Association and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. At the national level, he served as general counsel of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association.
In 2004, Mr. Ryan was pre-deceased by his wife of 62 years, Harriet Harrigan Ryan. He is survived by their two sons: Joe and wife Daisy of Buchanan, N.Y. and Dennis and wife Barbara of Clifton Park, N.Y.; three grandchildren: Jeremiah Ryan of Long Island, Jennifer and husband Matt DiPietro of Long Island and Leah Benson of Mountville, Penn. His great-grandson, Jonathan Ryan DiPietro of Long Island, was born on Dec. 6.
Calling hours will be at the Chateaugay Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. A funeral Mass with full military honors will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Chateaugay, immediately followed by an Irish wake at the American Legion.
Born in Pittsford, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 1917, Ryan grew up in the Bronx and spent summers on the family farm in Chateaugay. After high school, he worked as a "sand hog" building the aqueduct tunnels that supply water to New York City.
In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Navy and subsequently was assigned to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed when the Japanese sneak attack occurred. He served the duration of World War II in the South Pacific as a radioman first class on the USS Denver, a Light Cruiser that saw heavy action in 11 major sea battles, was torpedoed and earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet Harrigan of Chateaugay. It's interesting to note that he, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, was on leave and in Times Square on V-J Day, when the Japanese formally surrendered.
After the war, Mr. Ryan attended Paul Smith's College in Saranac Lake, graduating with the Class of 1949; and he earned his law degree from Boston University Law School in 1952. Passing both the Massachusetts and New York bar exams, he returned to Saranac Lake as an attorney with the law offices of Hayward "Red" Plumadore. In 1955, he joined the Legal Department of 5th Avenue Coach/Surface Transit in New York City. In 1962 he moved his family back to Chateaugay, where he built his law practice as a "country lawyer." From 1965 thru 1975 he served as the first public defender of Franklin County. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney, a position he held until his retirement in 1984.
At age 68 he realized his life-long dream of becoming a pilot, by earning his FAA Student Pilot's License, and he continued to fly airplanes until age 73.
His years of community service include: Chateaugay Town Council, commander of the Chateaugay American Legion and Grand Knight of the Chateaugay Knights of Columbus. At the time of his death, Mr. Ryan was the senior member of the Franklin County Bar Association and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. At the national level, he served as general counsel of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association.
In 2004, Mr. Ryan was pre-deceased by his wife of 62 years, Harriet Harrigan Ryan. He is survived by their two sons: Joe and wife Daisy of Buchanan, N.Y. and Dennis and wife Barbara of Clifton Park, N.Y.; three grandchildren: Jeremiah Ryan of Long Island, Jennifer and husband Matt DiPietro of Long Island and Leah Benson of Mountville, Penn. His great-grandson, Jonathan Ryan DiPietro of Long Island, was born on Dec. 6.
Calling hours will be at the Chateaugay Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. A funeral Mass with full military honors will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Chateaugay, immediately followed by an Irish wake at the American Legion.
CHATEAUGAY -- Pearl Harbor survivor and retired Franklin County District Attorney the Hon. Joseph J. Ryan, Sr., passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. As all warriors deserve to, he died at home in his sleep. He was 90, and just the day before, received news that he was a great grandfather.
Born in Pittsford, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 1917, Ryan grew up in the Bronx and spent summers on the family farm in Chateaugay. After high school, he worked as a "sand hog" building the aqueduct tunnels that supply water to New York City.
In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Navy and subsequently was assigned to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed when the Japanese sneak attack occurred. He served the duration of World War II in the South Pacific as a radioman first class on the USS Denver, a Light Cruiser that saw heavy action in 11 major sea battles, was torpedoed and earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet Harrigan of Chateaugay. It's interesting to note that he, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, was on leave and in Times Square on V-J Day, when the Japanese formally surrendered.
After the war, Mr. Ryan attended Paul Smith's College in Saranac Lake, graduating with the Class of 1949; and he earned his law degree from Boston University Law School in 1952. Passing both the Massachusetts and New York bar exams, he returned to Saranac Lake as an attorney with the law offices of Hayward "Red" Plumadore. In 1955, he joined the Legal Department of 5th Avenue Coach/Surface Transit in New York City. In 1962 he moved his family back to Chateaugay, where he built his law practice as a "country lawyer." From 1965 thru 1975 he served as the first public defender of Franklin County. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney, a position he held until his retirement in 1984.
At age 68 he realized his life-long dream of becoming a pilot, by earning his FAA Student Pilot's License, and he continued to fly airplanes until age 73.
His years of community service include: Chateaugay Town Council, commander of the Chateaugay American Legion and Grand Knight of the Chateaugay Knights of Columbus. At the time of his death, Mr. Ryan was the senior member of the Franklin County Bar Association and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. At the national level, he served as general counsel of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association.
In 2004, Mr. Ryan was pre-deceased by his wife of 62 years, Harriet Harrigan Ryan. He is survived by their two sons: Joe and wife Daisy of Buchanan, N.Y. and Dennis and wife Barbara of Clifton Park, N.Y.; three grandchildren: Jeremiah Ryan of Long Island, Jennifer and husband Matt DiPietro of Long Island and Leah Benson of Mountville, Penn. His great-grandson, Jonathan Ryan DiPietro of Long Island, was born on Dec. 6.
Calling hours will be at the Chateaugay Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. A funeral Mass with full military honors will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Chateaugay, immediately followed by an Irish wake at the American Legion.
Born in Pittsford, N.Y. on Dec. 8, 1917, Ryan grew up in the Bronx and spent summers on the family farm in Chateaugay. After high school, he worked as a "sand hog" building the aqueduct tunnels that supply water to New York City.
In 1941 he enlisted in the United States Navy and subsequently was assigned to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed when the Japanese sneak attack occurred. He served the duration of World War II in the South Pacific as a radioman first class on the USS Denver, a Light Cruiser that saw heavy action in 11 major sea battles, was torpedoed and earned the Presidential Unit Citation.
In 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Harriet Harrigan of Chateaugay. It's interesting to note that he, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, was on leave and in Times Square on V-J Day, when the Japanese formally surrendered.
After the war, Mr. Ryan attended Paul Smith's College in Saranac Lake, graduating with the Class of 1949; and he earned his law degree from Boston University Law School in 1952. Passing both the Massachusetts and New York bar exams, he returned to Saranac Lake as an attorney with the law offices of Hayward "Red" Plumadore. In 1955, he joined the Legal Department of 5th Avenue Coach/Surface Transit in New York City. In 1962 he moved his family back to Chateaugay, where he built his law practice as a "country lawyer." From 1965 thru 1975 he served as the first public defender of Franklin County. In 1976 he was elected District Attorney, a position he held until his retirement in 1984.
At age 68 he realized his life-long dream of becoming a pilot, by earning his FAA Student Pilot's License, and he continued to fly airplanes until age 73.
His years of community service include: Chateaugay Town Council, commander of the Chateaugay American Legion and Grand Knight of the Chateaugay Knights of Columbus. At the time of his death, Mr. Ryan was the senior member of the Franklin County Bar Association and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. At the national level, he served as general counsel of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association.
In 2004, Mr. Ryan was pre-deceased by his wife of 62 years, Harriet Harrigan Ryan. He is survived by their two sons: Joe and wife Daisy of Buchanan, N.Y. and Dennis and wife Barbara of Clifton Park, N.Y.; three grandchildren: Jeremiah Ryan of Long Island, Jennifer and husband Matt DiPietro of Long Island and Leah Benson of Mountville, Penn. His great-grandson, Jonathan Ryan DiPietro of Long Island, was born on Dec. 6.
Calling hours will be at the Chateaugay Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. A funeral Mass with full military honors will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Chateaugay, immediately followed by an Irish wake at the American Legion.
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