Larry Ryan of Ventura, CA, died Saturday, January 23, 2016, at home, after a long battle with heart disease, diabetes, and pulmonary fibrosis, and a short battle with lung cancer.
Born in Waltham, MA, September 4, 1944, to Wilbert and Ruth (Hunt) Ryan, Larry was an avid fisherman, poker enthusiast, proud Vietnam veteran, and loyal friend to all. Until his retirement, he worked for many years in technology sales and loved fishing, camping, his daily walks on Ventura Beach, and his poker buddies at the Players Club.
In 1987, Larry met his wife Mary Heacox through her sister Karen and his best friend and brother-in-law, Arthur. It was an immediate connection and their incredible bond lasted for nearly 29 years. In 1992, they married and always felt blessed to have a marriage others may only dream of – loving and supportive partners and best friends from the moment they met until their separation through his passing. In 1998, their love of canoeing and fishing brought them to Saranac Lake, New York, in the Adirondacks where they spent two idyllic years in the mountains while living on a chain of lakes.
After returning to Massachusetts for six years, they made the bold decision to move cross country to California, where they found their perfect home overlooking the Ventura Pier and Channel Islands and made many wonderful and lasting friendships. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Larry, you’d always hear “Another Day in Paradise” – he was so grateful for waking up every day in Ventura.
Larry is survived by his wife Mary; his sister Pearla; his nephews Bobby (Julie) Maguire, Ed (Cheryl) Ryan, Darren McHugh, Tom (Laura) Ryan, and Patrick Ryan; his nieces Debby (Joe) Calareso, Karen (Dana) Reeves, Linda (Joe) Leatham, Kathy (Tony) Houde; mother-in-law Kathryn Heacox and her partner Dr. Harvey Hayden; brothers-in-law Ed (Lynn) Heacox, Joe (Marjorie) Heacox, Dave Heacox and partner Suzy Gould, Chris (Josie) Heacox; sister-in-law Karen Heacox (Arthur Frigault), many great and great-great nieces and nephews, and his sweet kitty Sadie. He was predeceased by his parents, brother and sister-in-law Ed Ryan and wife Joan; his sisters June (Robert) Maguire and Hilda Schorr; and his beloved father-in-law Ed Heacox who he was going to take fishing when he met him at the “Gate.”
Mary would like to express her deep gratitude to Tina (MSW) of Community Memorial Health; April of Assisted Home Health; Dr. William Rajala, Helen (MSW), and Caulene (RN) of Assisted Hospice Care; Gonzolo of Assisted Caregiver Services; Stephanie and Heidi of Assisted Private Care; and Jesse and Jaime of Palmedeq. You helped make his final days easier – I can’t thank you enough for all the love, support, and kindness you gave during his last few days here.
She would also like to thank Karen and Arthur, their life-long best friends, for unknowingly bringing them together in a more joyful life than anyone could ever imagine.
And to my beautiful husband who I will miss with heartache until my last breath – words could not possibly express my gratitude that you chose me. You made me a better person, loved me unconditionally; loved me for whom I am and never tried to change that – no one could possibly wish for more in this lifetime – thank you for being my rock.
I will bring your fishing pole when we meet again.
I love you more…
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Paralyzed Veterans of America (www.SupportVeterans.org) or the American Heart Association (https://donatenow.heart.org).