Richard Nelson Ryan Jr.

Richard Nelson Ryan Jr.

Richard Nelson Ryan Jr., 64, died of natural causes on December 28, at his house in East Hampton Village. Born on January 14, 1946, in New York City, he was the son of Richard Nelson Ryan and Hope Bacon Ryan, both of whom predeceased him.

A familiar figure from Wainscott to Montauk, Mr. Ryan was seen daily driving his red Jeep throughout East Hampton Town, stopping at the Wainscott post office, observing activity at the airport, checking beach conditions, and visiting his many friends along the way. He was well known, too, for his generosity to numerous charitable organizations in East Hampton—help he gave faithfully and always without recognition.

Mr. Ryan grew up in New York City and Wainscott and had lived in East Hampton for the past 35 years. He attended the Buckley School in Manhattan, Aiken Prep in Aiken, South Carolina, and the Winchendon School in Massachusetts. He entered the Army in 1966, attained the rank of specialist five, and served on Okinawa as a dog handler for the military police. Following his military service, he worked for several years at the Wall Street firm of Carlisle and de Jacqueline.

Mr. Ryan was a fourth generation descendent of Thomas Fortune Ryan, a 19th and 20th century financier and philanthropist, and of Eliot C. Bacon, a scion of an American diplomatic family and a confidant of President Theodore Roosevelt.

He is survived by his sister, Hope Ryan Garrett of Seattle, a niece, Hope Farnell Belles of Tiburon, California, and a nephew, Richard Ryan Plum of Southampton. He was predeceased by a sister, Alix Ryan Plum.

At Mr. Ryan’s request, no funeral service will be held. The family has announced that a celebration of his life will be held in the spring, the time and place to be announced. An interim celebratory service will be held at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home, 94 Pantigo Road in East Hampton, on Thursday, January 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Nichol’s of East Hampton following Thursday’s service.

Memorial donations have been suggested to the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, P.O. Box 901, Wainscott 11975, and to the East Hampton Volunteer Ambulance Association, 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton 11937.