David Ryan died on June 30 at the age of 82, after several weeks of declining health. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Judith, and by three sons, two daughters, four step-daughters and many grandchildren. Dave graduated from Hopkins School in New Haven in 1957 and received a BA from Yale in 1961. He was a proud member of the Yale 1960 undefeated football team and was serving on the Advisory Board of the Yale Class of 1961 Endowment at the Yale Cancer Center.
Dave received a Masters Degree in Industrial Relations from Cornell following Yale and eventually opened his own labor relations firm. He was appointed as a Permanent Mediator for the State of Connecticut by a Republican governor, and as a testament to his impartial approach, he was reappointed by subsequent Republican and Democratic governors, serving until his death.
Dave spent a great deal of volunteer time coaching young baseball players at a high school and American Legion level. He was fiercely loyal to his family and friends. If you were a friend of Dave, he would move mountains for you. His profound effect on his children, grandchildren and friends, his disdain for political extremes, and his sense of fairness for all left the world as a better place.