Robert O'Neill Ryan

On Saturday August 7, 2021, at the age of 84, Robert O’Neill Ryan, son of Jeremiah Francis and Margaret (McCabe) Ryan, passed away at the Hope Health Hulitar Hospice Center.  He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia Teresa (Prior) Ryan.

Robert is survived by his daughter Maureen S. Ryan, sons Robert O. Ryan Jr. & Michael T. Ryan, all of Providence.

He also leaves behind his sister, Louise Sullivan, Foxboro MA, and brother, Jeremiah (Jay) Ryan, Cumberland RI.  We will miss and always treasure his profound kindness, innate empathy, overwhelming generosity, incredible wit and sense of humor.

Robert served his country proudly in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.  He was employed for many years by the Arnold Buffum Chace family & then retired from the state of RI in 2007 after 20 years at CCRI.

Robert was a founding board member of The Irish Ceilidhe Club of Rhode Island and a former President & member of Ireland’s 32 Society, where he started the 1st news bulletin which is still in circulation today.  He was passionate about many and all things Irish, especially his 30+ years of genealogy research and his many trips to Ireland.

Donations in lieu of flowers are greatly appreciated to any of the following charities dear to Bob & Virginia’s heart; The Providence VA at, PVAMC Volunteer Services (135), 830 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, RI 02908, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105, or New England Hemophilia Association, 347 Washington St. Suite 401 Dedham, MA 02026 in honor of Logan Michael Carty, or Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, Eastern PA Chapter, 555 Croton Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406 in honor of Mason William Carty or St. Raymond Church, 2 Matilda St, Providence, RI 02904 or  Shriners Hospital for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr. Tampa, FL 33607.

Funeral, Tuesday August 17th beginning at 8 am, from the Russell J. Boyle and Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith St., Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Raymond’s Church, 1240 North Main St., Providence.  Burial in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence.