James Walter Ryan died peacefully of pancreatic cancer in Montgomery Hospice Casey House on November 18, 2016 in Rockville, MD at the age of 77. James is survived by wife, Mary Kathleen Mason Ryan; children, Patrick (Ellen), Thomas (Dawn), Mary Ann, and Emily; sister Mary Kathryn Ryan Utley (Larry), sister-in-lawn Patricia Ann Ryan (Gerald); grandchildren, Conor Patrick, Margaret Kathleen, Declan Thomas, and Kiernan James. Jim was born on April 22, 1939 in Chicago, IL to Patrick W. Ryan and Thelma Miller Ryan. He graduated from John Carroll University in 1961 with a degree in mathematics and earned a MS in mathematics from GWU. He married Mary Kathleen Mason in 1965. They celebrated their 51st anniversary this year. He started working at
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in 1963. He worked on manned flight missions, including Apollo, through the 60s and 70s. He spent the remaining decades of his career in space geodesy. Jim's many interests included international travel such as bicycling in Europe. He had a second career in stained glass design, specializing in Frank Lloyd Wright. He enjoyed time with his grandchildren and keeping in touch with his Chicago family. He was active in his sons' Boy Scout troops, including time as scoutmaster of Troop 439. Visitation hours will be at Holy Redeemer Church (Kensington) on December 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass is scheduled for December 3, 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Montgomery Hospice at
www.montgomeryhospice.org. The family would like to thank the hospice staff for devoted and kind care.
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