John William Ryan

1963 - 2022

John William Ryan
July 22, 1963 - May 16, 2022
John William Ryan died unexpectedly at home in Washington, DC on the evening of May 16, 2022. Born in Oakland, California, John grew up in Orinda, graduated from Miramonte High School in 1982, and moved to Washington, DC in 1988.
Although he devoted his career to public policy, John was a gardener at heart, and had the soul of an artist. If he couldn't be on the Maine coast smelling the ocean, or in Northern California with the smell of pine needles warming in the sun, he was happiest wandering around his garden with his husband Tom and their dog Lucy. He could spend hours combing through gardening catalogs, and his no-spray garden was a haven for bees, birds, and butterflies. John loved spending time with family and friends, sharing a "minerally" white wine, a peaty scotch, or an ice-cold martini.
Most of all, John was kind and warm to everyone he met, was a devoted friend and supportive colleague, was hospitable and generous, and rarely put himself first.
Before moving to Washington, DC in 1988, John earned a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. The son of a community banker, John found his career path in Washington in financial services public policy, and devoted his career to promoting and defending the state banking system as critical to consumer protection and economic stability and growth. Since 2011, John was President and CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) where he had worked since 1997. Prior to that, John led the financial services consulting practice at Newmyer Associates and spent four years on the professional staff of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs. In 1993, John received a fellowship from the Commission of the European Union to work in its financial institutions directorate in Brussels, Belgium.
John is survived by his husband and partner of 20 years, Thomas J. Otto, his mother Jane Bauer Ryan of Orinda, his brothers Jim (Lisa Philbrick) of Jackson, Wyoming and Jeff (Claire Ferguson) of Austin, Texas, and nephews and nieces Trevor, Tara, Christopher, and Sean Ryan, and Olivia and Philip Tudor. John was predeceased by his father James L. Ryan.
Funeral services will be held July 22, 2022 at 1:00 PM at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Orinda.
Kindly consider making a memorial donation in John's name to Doctors Without Borders or The Garden Conservancy.