William Alexis Ryan

Newcomb----William Alexis Ryan was born June 12, 1922, in Bennington, VT, passed away on February 25, 2018 at the age of 95. He was the son of John C. Ryan and Julia G. La Marre. He graduated from Fair Haven High School class of 1940. He attended New England School of Arts in Boston, MA before joining the U.S. Navy in October 1942. He served in the Pacific theater aboard LST #743 as a pharmacist mate, first class. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in December 1945 and returned to Vermont.

He obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Fordham University in New York City in 1951. In the fall of 1951, he moved to France where he taught English Conversation at the Lycee deGarcons in Metz (northern France). He spent a second year teaching in Rennes (western France) where he met his future wife Joyce N. Swancott a native of Great Britain who was also teaching in France. He returned to the United States in 1953 and obtained a Masters Degree from the Teachers College Columbia University for teaching French in 1954. He began teaching at Wilbraham Academy, Wilbraham, MA in 1955. He married Joyce Swancott in August of 1955. He taught for a year on Fishers Island and then they moved to Newcomb, NY in the Adirondacks. He taught French and English at Newcomb Central School for 31 years, retiring in 1987. Since his wife's death in 1995 he has lived in Queensbury, NY.

He is survived by his seven children and their families: Philip (Judith) Ryan of Oswego, NY; James (Gilian) Ryan of Geneva, NY; John (Robyn) Ryan of Jefferson, GA; Marie Rossi of Albany, NY; Tom (Diane) Ryan of Latham, NY; Catherine (James) Reilly of Hampton, NH; and Margaret (Francisco) Gonzalez of North Port, FL. He is survived by 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his calling hours on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 4 to 6 p.m. at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet, NY. A service will follow at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in William's memory may be made to the Newcomb Rescue Squad, 20 Marcy Lane, Newcomb, NY 12852.

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