A lifelong resident of Malden, passed away on Tuesday, August 22nd surrounded by his loving family. Big Dan is survived by his loving wife Florence (Glynn) Ryan, his children Daniel Ryan Jr. and his wife Kelly (Londergan) Ryan, Theresa Malone and her husband David Malone Sr, his brother Michael Ryan and his wife Leona (Kelly) Ryan, his grandchildren Finn Ryan, Danny Ryan, Jennifer Gray partner James, Clayton Gray, Christine Gray and her partner Nicholas, DJ Malone and his partner Janice, Sean Malone and his wife Laura (Romero) Malone, and Michael Malone, Great Grandchildren Cade, Gavin, James, Hannah, Alexandria, Victoria, Anthony, Millie and Archie. He is predeceased by his daughter, Deborah Malone, and his brother John “Jack” Ryan and his wife Noreen (Enwright) Ryan,
Dan was born on December 8, 1941 (one day after Pearl Harbor) and was a lifelong resident of Malden and a 1959 graduate of Malden High School. He served his country honorably in Vietnam, serving in the 5th Infantry division. He earned the nickname “Pops” as he was slightly older than most of his division and had a few gray hairs. After returning home from Vietnam, he took a job at Boston Gas where he worked for 35 years, retiring in 2004.
Dan was a devoted husband, and family man. He loved to garden and had quite the green thumb as his garden would consist of over 100+ tomato plants and multiple other veggies. He truly enjoyed giving out his veggies to his large family and group of friends. Dan was a member of many social clubs in Malden, the American Legion, Irish American, Italian America and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Malden (Order 893) where he became the Massachusetts State President and the Senior Northeast Regional President in 1996.
Funeral services were held from the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, Malden on Monday, August 28th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the Immaculate Conception Church, Malden. Interment followed in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
A night of visitation was held in the funeral home on Sunday, August 27th. In lieu of flowers, donations in in Dan’s memory may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 529 Main Street Suite #1M17, Boston, MA 02129.