Garry Patrick Ryan's Obituary
Garry Patrick Ryan, 59, longtime resident of Gainesville, Florida, died Thursday, January 9, 2025, in the Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, following a brief illness.
Garry was born in Rockaway, Queens, New York on June 16, 1965, and had lived in Florida since 1983. Garry was raised Catholic but had practiced many of the Buddhist teachings throughout his life. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Philosophy and Journalism degree. It was at UF he met his first love, Blair Sands who sparked and nourished his love of the Arts. He was a musician, a song writer and an author. Garry was a people person and worked as a waiter for many years at both Paramount Grille and currently at Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, always keeping his creative juices flowing.
Garry was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Joseph Ryan in 1990, a brother, Michael Thomas Ryan in 2016, and by a niece, Kylie Ryan in 2016, nephew, Matt Ryan in 2019 and Cody Hannett in 2014 who Garry loved and raised as his own, with Cody’s Mom, Dawn Hannett.
He is survived by his mother, Karen Sue Ryan, of Beverly Hills; two brothers, Glenn (Jennifer) Ryan of Ocala and Kevin Ryan of Beverly Hills, his longtime companion and life partner, Dianna Lynn Stokes, of Gainesville; nieces and nephews, Aidan, Gavin, Evangeline and Francesca Ryan, Patrick, Collin and Shannon Ryan and Erin Ryan.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., in the Chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Downtown, 404 North Main Street, Gainesville, with the family receiving 1 hour prior to the service, beginning at 2:00 P.M.
A celebration of Garry’s life will follow in “Loosey’s” 120 SW 1st Ave Gainesville.
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