Paul J. Ryan

Waltham – Mr. Paul J. Ryan, of Waltham, died Friday, October 14, 2011 at his home. He was 90.

Paul was born in Watertown on January 25, 1921, a son of the late Michael and Margaret (Donahue) Ryan. Having lost both parents by the time he was 3, Paul and his siblings were raised in Waltham by their aunt and uncle, Patrick 'P.J.' and Elizabeth Ryan. The large Ryan clan, natives of Kilkenny, Ireland took the youngsters in and raised them as their own.

All of the children attended St. Joseph's School and Saint Mary's High School in Waltham where Paul graduated in 1939. He attended Boston College a year later; however his studies were interrupted by the advent of World War II.

Paul joined the United States Army Air Corps and served for the duration of the war as a staff sergeant with air corps units in the Pacific. After the war he re-entered B.C. and graduated in 1948 with a degree in economics. Paul began a 46 year banking career with Shawmut Bank in Everett and a few years later went to work with Middlesex County National Bank where he remained until his retirement in 1991 as a senior vice-president of BayBanks, the name of the bank after several mergers. After retirement Paul worked as a senior loan officer at Somerset Bank in Somerville until 1994.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Marie T. (Martin) Ryan; his children, Paul T. Ryan and his wife, Carmela, of Billerica, Richard J. Ryan of Medford, David M. Ryan and his wife, Michelle, of Herndon, Virginia, Barbara A. Ryan, M.D. and her husband, Kevin McGinley, of Biddeford, Maine and Daniel E. Ryan and his wife, Loretta, of Tewksbury; 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Paul was a brother of the late William Ryan, Helen Bergin and Robert Ryan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Paul's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, October 20th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.