Father Albert "AJ" Ryan, age 82, passed away February 1, 2015 at Catholic Memorial Nursing Center after a long illness. Father Ryan was born on April 15, 1932 in Boston to the late Albert J. and Mary J. (Gill) Ryan. He attended Boston Commerce High School and St. Philip of Neri School.
He is survived by his brother, Robert Ryan and his wife Mary of Antioch, TN, his sister, Sheila McGrale and her husband Jack of Kingston, MA along with numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and cousins who loved and enjoyed spending special family time with.
Father Ryan was ordained into the priesthood as a Monfort Father in 1958 with assignments in Bay Shore, NY, St. Louis, MO, Noblesville, IN and Hamilton-Ontario, Canada. He entered the U.S. Air Force as a chaplain in 1966 with assignments in Ohio, New York, Thailand, Massachusetts, Greece and North Dakota. After leaving active duty he entered the Air Force Reserve from which he retired as a Lt. Colonel with 20 years of service. He devoted many years to the Diocese of Fall River with parish assignments in Hyannis, North Attleboro, Taunton, Swansea, Fall River culminating with assignment to St. Francis of Assisi in New Bedford as pastor prior to his retirement. He was a long-time resident of Mashpee, MA. He loved Cape Cod and enjoyed filling in at the Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich. He served as a chaplain for the Barnstable Fire Department and the Barnstable County House of Corrections.
Father Ryan will be transferred to St. Lawrence Church, 565 County St., New Bedford on Thursday, February 5th at 3 PM, where he will lie in state until a Wake Service at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 6th at 11 AM, with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha as principal celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Catholic Memorial Nursing Center, 2446 Highland Ave., Fall River, MA 02720 or Cardinal Medeiros Residence, 375 Elsbree St., Fall River, MA 02720.