John F. Ryan

A talented lawyer, rancher, fisherman, deer hunter, musician, intellectual, environmentalist, and especially sailor, he was a loving father to four children, 6 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. He was a great outdoorsman when not practicing law, most often found on a sailboat exploring the Caribbean, deer hunting in South Texas, fishing off the jetty in Port Aransas, playing piano or playing Spanish guitar fireside in the mountains or at a beach.

A world traveler, John (aka “Dink”) graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas School of Law, marrying Frances Hurley of Seaford, Delaware while at U.T., having four children together in their 15 years of marriage.

His career as a bilingual oil and gas lawyer took Dink and his young family to live in New York, Chicago, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Bogota, Columbia while negotiating oil and gas leases for Texaco. He continued in the oil business living in Caracas, Venezuela and traveling the world with other oil companies. In the 1970s, he became a controversial whistleblower, opposing corporate corruption (bribes) in the oil industry in South America, publicly leaving Occidental and CEO Armand Hammer behind to embark on a solo career as an oil and gas and environmental lawyer, a rare combination.

Living in Austin in the 1980s, he successfully represented Central Texas plaintiffs to stop ongoing pollution of the Colorado River and Lake Travis, his favorite sailing spot other than the Caribbean.

Dink leaves behind his sisters Mary Ryan Adams and Nancy Goodwin Hughes,Sarah Ryan and Johanna Ryan, his brother George Good, his former wife Frances Hurley Ryan, his children Michael Hurley Ryan, Susan Ryan Stotesbery (husband Bill) and Bonnie Ryan Chester of Bastrop, TX. He also leaves his grandchildren Madison, Mason, Van, Sam, Joshua, and Kate and namesake great grandson Oliver Fitzgerald and many close relatives including Virginia Chambers, Frank (“Pancho”) Wright, Ralph Wright, daughter-in-law Vangie Ryan and more, too many to list.

Dink was preceded in death by his father John Ryan, mother Virginia Wright Goodwin, sister Virginia (“Tucky”) Chambers, son John Stephen Ryan, and longtime companion Clare Ryan.

He will be greatly missed by his loving caregiver Melda Morris, his many close friends including Laurie Taylor and Hutchie, and the staff at the Renaissance Austin, where he lived for the last five years. Our family is very grateful for the compassionate care he received there and at St David’s Hospital.

Services to honor Dink will be held on Saturday March 20, 2021 at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills at 3:00 p.m.