A.J. "Red" Ryan Jr.

RYAN, JR., A.J."RED", age 78, former state legislator died Sunday at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood. Born May 20, 1927, in Dania Beach, Ryan served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1956-62, and in the Florida Senate from 1962-67. He was instrumental in the opening of Pompano Harness Track and in the creation of the town of Pembroke Park. In 2003, town commission members named a park after Ryan in honor of his efforts on the Town's behalf. Ryan was a veteran of both the World War II and Korean War eras, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1947 and in the U.S. Army from 1951-1952. A 1944 graduate of South Broward High School, Ryan earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a law degree from the University of Florida. He distinguished himself as a student leader at UF, serving as editor-in-chief of the law review and earning selection into the UF Hall of Fame and Florida Blue Key. Ryan married the former Johanna Betty Rasch of Dearborn, MI in 1950 and the couple remained happily married until her death in 1985. He was also preceded in death by his parents, A. J. "Art" Ryan, Sr., who served on both the Hollywood and Dania city commissions and the Port Everglades Council, and Genevieve Ratty Ryan, who was the National President of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary from 1966-1967. He is survived by a brother James Ryan of Leesburg; a sister Gene Burgess of Tampa; seven children A. J. "Archie" Ryan III, Timothy Ryan and John Ryan all of Dania Beach; Michael Ryan of Ft. Lauderdale; Jeffrey Ryan of Tallahassee; Christopher Ryan of Wilton Manors; Elizabeth Ryan McCain of Coconut Grove and 17 grandchildren. The Ryan family will receive visitors at Panciera Memorial Home, Friday, May 5, 2006 from 2-4 & 6-9 PM. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 11:00 AM at St. Maurice Catholic Church; 2851 Stirling Road, with burial to follow at Dania Memorial Park, 300 W. Dixie Highway in Dania Beach. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the National Parkinson's Foundation; 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136 or the Multiple Sclerosis Society; S. Florida Chapter, 3201 Commercial Blvd., Suite 127, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309. Arrangements by: PANCIERA MEMORIAL HOME 4200 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, FL 33021 954-989-9900 www.panciera.com. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.