Erich D. Ryll

RYLL, Erich D. Dr. Erich Daniel Ryll, Sr., 93 years old, of Carmichael, CA, died on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at Mercy San Juan Hospital, of complications from an intestinal illness. Dr. Ryll was born in Lorain, Ohio, to Nicodemus and Carolina Ryll, both German immigrants, on June 30th, 1921. He served in World War II in the US Army in Morocco & Italy 1942- 1945, and upon returning home he graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.A. in 1949. He went on to the University of Kansas, where he received a master's in Microbiology in 1953, and became an M.D. in 1957. After re-joining the Army in 1958, he completed a Fellowship in Research in 1963 at the Walter Reed Institute of Research in Washington D.C. He was a US Army physician and researcher until 1967. He joined Kaiser Permanente as Chief of Infectious Disease in Sacramento in 1967. In 1968 he started a private practice in internal medicine/infectious diseases in Carmichael and became well-known for his expertise. He helped a large body of patients through a devastating infectious disease in the '70's, and continued to practice medicine into his mid-80's. Dr. Ryll started the Physicians' Cycling Association in 1974 and remained an avid cyclist all his days. He also sang in the Sacramento Symphony Masterworks Chorus and the Bach Choir. A man of celebratory nature, he loved things passionately: his wife, his family, music, and cycling. He was preceded in death by his daughter Dorthea Kathleen Ryll (1949), and son Thomas Byers Ryll (1988); and is survived by two sisters, Tabea Ryll and Gertrude Stephen-Hancko; his wife of 72 years, Marjorie (Baldwin) Ryll; his son Erich D. Ryll, Jr. (Loretta); his daughter Eda (Ryll) Mathews (Art); his daughter-in-law Kathleen Ryll; and grandchildren Owen, Colin, and Ryll Mathews; Stephanie Ryll; Scott Ryll; and great-grandchildren Liza and Levi Ryll. A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at Town & Country Lutheran Church, 4049 Marconi Ave., Sacramento, on Monday, December 8th at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, and on behalf of his wife, we request that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.