Who is John Ryan to me?
A thinker, a doer, and a highly principled person.
Willing to give his all, whatever it takes, to advance economic development. Even if it meant spending months away from family, in the most rural parts of countries such as Brazil, China, and India, where he thought he could help, teach, and inspire. He also left his mark on many other countries as well.
Ardent believer in “business principles and practices” to reduce poverty, leading us down a path where energy is an input to agriculture and other sectors.
Perennial student of academia and life, always trying to learn more, apply it, and push the envelope.
John worked for me at Winrock and ESG but it was always clear who the real boss was. It was impossible to keep up with his intellect and thought process and easier to sit back and learn.
John loved Missy and his family and was a true colleague and friend to those he worked with.
John would always tell it how he saw it, with no sugar coating, and let you know how you were wrong in the most thoughtful and systematic way possible, making it very challenging to argue.
I miss John a lot and think of him often. This is particularly true now as I am sending this from London, a place that he spent a lot of time in and holds many memories.
John loved what he did. As we have learned recently, maybe too much.
But without people like John, (and I do not know many), who are able to stand up for what they believe, take risks, deliver results, and refuse to take no for an answer, our plans for a more equitable world would fade as quickly as John’s life.
A thinker, a doer, and a highly principled person.
Willing to give his all, whatever it takes, to advance economic development. Even if it meant spending months away from family, in the most rural parts of countries such as Brazil, China, and India, where he thought he could help, teach, and inspire. He also left his mark on many other countries as well.
Ardent believer in “business principles and practices” to reduce poverty, leading us down a path where energy is an input to agriculture and other sectors.
Perennial student of academia and life, always trying to learn more, apply it, and push the envelope.
John worked for me at Winrock and ESG but it was always clear who the real boss was. It was impossible to keep up with his intellect and thought process and easier to sit back and learn.
John loved Missy and his family and was a true colleague and friend to those he worked with.
John would always tell it how he saw it, with no sugar coating, and let you know how you were wrong in the most thoughtful and systematic way possible, making it very challenging to argue.
I miss John a lot and think of him often. This is particularly true now as I am sending this from London, a place that he spent a lot of time in and holds many memories.
John loved what he did. As we have learned recently, maybe too much.
But without people like John, (and I do not know many), who are able to stand up for what they believe, take risks, deliver results, and refuse to take no for an answer, our plans for a more equitable world would fade as quickly as John’s life.
John’s passing has brought many of us back together who have lost touch. It is up to us now to continue John’s vision in a way that would make him proud and rest a bit easier.
Judy Siegel
ESG
