Advertisement. Advertise with us

IN MEMORIAM: Anne C. Ryan, 74;

With NYSHA While In Cooperstown

COOPERSTOWN – Anne Catherine Ryan, of Ithaca, who was active in the community while working at the New York State Historical Association, passed away unexpectedly on Sept.  20, 2016, at the age of 74.

Anne, the daughter of the late Paul Ryan and Mary McCawley Ryan, was born in Pittston, Pa., March 31, 1942.  She attended West Side Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1960. Moving to Manhattan, she attended the Tobé-Coburn School for Fashion Careers and worked for Macy’s, Inc. as a fashion coordinator.

Anne married Russell Bland, the accountant, on May 1, 1965. The couple had two children, Ian and Jennifer. While living in Cooperstown and working full time for NYSHA as a publications assistant and writer, she earned her B.S. degree in history from the SUNY Oneonta.

Anne later moved to Ithaca, NY, taking a position in Development Communication with Cornell University. She left Cornell to become Director of Development at Williams College. After a few years she returned to Ithaca, where she married her current husband, Ralph B. Thompson, October 12, 1996. She worked in Development Communication at Ithaca College until her retirement in 2005. Thereafter, she continued with Ithaca as a freelance writer.

Anne was quite active in her communities. She served as President of the Cooperstown chapter of The League of Women Voters. She sat on the Board of Directors of the Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County, and was a founding member of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Anne is survived by her husband, Ralph B. Thompson, daughter Jennifer (Bland) Triolo of Midland Park, NJ, son Ian Bland of Langenthal, Switzerland, 4 grandchildren, sisters Paula Ryan and Mary (Ryan) Roff, brother Michael Ryan, two nieces, and many cousins. Jennifer and husband, Peter Triolo, have two children: Jocelyn and Victor.  Ian has two children: Carmen and Elias.

The family will hold a celebration of her life at Simeon’s on the Commons, 224 East State Street, Ithaca. Friends are invited to the “Anne Would Have Loved This” Party which begins at 12 noon on Saturday, September 24, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, please donate generously in Anne’s memory to:

Arthritis National Research Foundation, 5354 E. 2nd Street, Suite 201, Long Beach, CA 90803. www.curearthritis.org/donate/

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.