William Bernard Ryan, 83, of Southern Shores, NC passed away on the last day of summer Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at his home with Kathleen, his wife of 62 years by his side.
Born in Morris County, NJ on July 24, 1939, he was the son of the late Dorothy Eggling Ryan and Bernard J. Ryan.
Bill devoted his entire adult life to his family and to serving his communities. At 21 years old, he married the love of his life Kathleen. Not only as children did they live down the street from each other, they were First Communion classmates, and they went to high school prom as an official couple. Also at 21, Bill joined the New Jersey State Police. He retired 28 years later as a well-respected lieutenant. Following in the footsteps of his father Barney, also a New Jersey State Trooper, he was soon joined by his brother Richard, and later nephew Tom, who also became New Jersey State Troopers. Bill was proud of this legacy and was once formally recognized as being one of the very few families with four living men, in three generations, to serve.
Shortly after this first retirement and at the ripe young age of 49, he and Kathleen moved to Nags Head where he embarked on a second career as a lifeguard. He began lifeguarding with Nags Head Ocean Rescue, later becoming director. After moving to Southern Shores, he began working as a supervisor with Duck Surf Rescue, where he enjoyed meeting (and sometimes diving in to save) the many folks living or vacationing in Duck. He loved seeing vacationing families return season after season and being able to share stories from the year. He especially appreciated the group of thoughtful area residents who fed the lifeguards all summer, keeping them sustained physically and mentally for the task at hand. Upon retirement 25 years later, he was widely (although not officially) recognized as the Oldest Lifeguard on the East Coast. Countless former lifeguards have reached out to say what a mentor, and even father-figure he was to them, and they love telling their own children “Willie stories.”
A third “career,” although unpaid, was his dedication as a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years, first in Rainbow Lakes, NJ and later in Nags Head and Southern Shores, NC.
His proudest accomplishment, and a testament to a life well-lived, was his large and loving family. He was a lifelong Catholic, and a parishioner of Holy Redeemer by The Sea Catholic Church.
Bill is survived by his wife, Kathleen Harquail Ryan, of the home; two sons, Tim Ryan (Kelly) of Pacific Grove, CA and Pat Ryan (Sandy) of Venice, FL; two daughters, Terri Rouhan of Venice, FL and Kelly Shields (Jeff) of Southern Shores, NC. Also surviving are ten grandchildren — Shawn, Kyle and Kevin Rouhan; Connor, Evan and Dylan Shields; Brittany and Shane Ryan; Noah and Grace Ryan; one great-grandchild, Arden Shields; one brother, Richard Ryan (Janice); and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday, October 10, 2022 at Holy Redeemer by The Sea Catholic Church. All are invited to a reception following Mass, location to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your choice of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/), Surfrider Foundation (https://www.surfrider.org/), or any local charity of your choice.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.