Bro. James Ryan, (Bro. Francis Bernard,) a member of the Marist Brothers of the Schools for 65 years, died on June 5, 2014 at Champagnat Hall in the Bronx. He was 83 years old.
Bro. James entered the Marist Brothers’ Novitiate, at Poughkeepsie, NY in 1948 and professed his first vows in 1950 at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Tyngsboro, MA. After completing his religious and academic studies at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, he began his ministry in 1953 dedicated to the Catholic education of youth which lasted for 47 years.
He received his undergraduate degree from Marist College in English and a Master’s Degree in English from St. John’s University.
He ministered in the Archdiocese of New York at St. Ann’s Academy, Mount Saint Michael Academy and Rice High School; Archbishop Molloy High School in the Diocese of Brooklyn; St. Mary’s High School in the Diocese of Rockville Centre; St. Joseph Academy in the Diocese of Brownsville and at Marist High School in the Archdiocese of Newark. He retired to the Marist Brother’s residence, Champagnat Hall, in the Bronx in 2000.
1931 Born to Thomas and Nellie Ryan on March 24
1948-49 Marist Novitiate, Poughkeepsie, NY, Postulant
1949 Reception of the Habit on July 26 in Poughkeepsie
1949-50 St. Joseph Novitiate, Tyngsboro, MA, Novice
1950 Profession of First Vows on July 26 in Tyngsboro
1950-52 Marist Scholasticate, Poughkeepsie, NY, Scholastic
1952-55 Mount St. Michael Academy, Bronx, NY, Teacher
1955 Profession of Perpetual Vows on July 29 in Esopus
1953 Bachelor of Arts in English, Marist College
1955-59 St. Ann’s Academy, New York, NY, Teacher
1959-62 St. Mary’s High School, Manhasset, NY, Teacher
1962-65 St. Joseph Academy, Laredo, TX, Teacher
1963 Master of Arts in English, St. John’s University
1965 Second Novitiate, Fribourg, Switzerland, Second Novitiate
1965-73 Archbishop Molloy High School, Briarwood, NY, Teacher
1973-75 Mount St. Michael Academy, Bronx, NY, Teacher
1975-92 Rice High School, New York, NY, Library
1992-95 Marist High School, Bayonne, NJ, Library
1995-99 Archbishop Molloy High School, Briarwood, NY, Maintenance
1999 Third Age Program, Manziana, Italy, Renewal
2000 Retirement