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


Saturday, January 5, 2013

Life Celebration Event - Rehoboth Beach, DE

On September 22, 2012, family & friends gathered in a circle next to the ocean on a glorious autumn day in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to celebrate John's life and legacy and help set his spirit free.

 Here are a few words that we shared during the ceremony:

 Reading from Thich Naht Hahn
The Energy of Prayer
________________________________________
No Coming, No Going

 This body is not me.
I am not caught in this body.
I am life without limit.
I have never been born and I never die.

Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars,
manifestations from my wondrous true mind.

Since beginning less time, I have always been free.
Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,
sacred thresholds on our journey.
Birth and death are a game of hide-and-seek.

So laugh with me,
hold my hand,
let us say good-bye,
say good-bye to meet again.

We meet today,
we will meet tomorrow,
we meet at the source in every moment,
we meet each other in all forms of life.
_________________________________________________
Let's pause for a moment, and bring our attention inward.
A helpful practice for difficult times is the Tibetan practice called Tunglin.

Breathing in, we feel the sadness, the tender spot in the heart
Breathing out, we feel the love that surrounds us

Breathing in, we feel our vulnerability
Breathing out, we feel our limitlessness 

Breathing in, we feel the sense of separation
Breathing out, we sense the oneness

Breathing in, we feel the shared suffering of all people who have known the loss of one they love
Breathing out, we release that suffering into the vast space of sky and ocean
_____________________________________________________________

In closing, let's share a blessing ...
honoring the principles by which John lived:

 May we all appreciate and protect the beauty of this natural world,
May we live in the world with clarity and wisdom,
May we each manifest our greatest gifts and empower others to do the same.

You might like to offer these wishes for yourself:

 May I be at peace.
May my heart remain open.
May I know great joy and happiness.
May I be a source of healing for this world. 
May I be free.

Now we offer these wishes to all beings on earth:

 May all beings be at peace.
May all beings live with open hearts.
May all beings know great joy and happiness.
May all beings be a source of healing for this world.
May all beings be free.

May John's spirit be free.

Namaste
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