John E.H. Ryan, 45, died on May 16, 2012, while working in Colombo, Sri Lanka. John was born October 31, 1966, in Cheltenham, England, and spent many years of his youth in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, including three years as a lifeguard.

John was educated at Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin, MD, and The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA; Master’s degree from University of Texas-Austin; and Doctoral degree from Warwick University’s School of Business in Coventry, England.

John will be remembered for his passion and commitment to reducing the human footprint on the planet while opening economic opportunities for rural communities around the world. For over 25 years, he traveled the globe seeking fellow entrepreneurs and providing opportunities to enable them to create environmentally sustainable businesses. He will be missed dearly.

He is survived by: his wife Melissa Ryan of Arlington, VA; parents Leon and Janet Ryan of Lewes, DE; brother James and sister-in-law Loretta Ryan of Seattle, WA; sister Mary and brother-in-law Mike Roth of Wilmington, DE; and brother Leon and sister-in-law Candy Ryan of Birmingham, AL.

Private family services were held in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach, DE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park or a local organization of your choice.

Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park - P. O. Box 132 - Nassau, DE 19969


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

from Judy Siegel // Vienna, VA

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. 

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

No comments:

Post a Comment