Tom tells the sad news of Bob Ryan passing away, and about Bob's deep affection for Dad, and how Dad reunited with Bob after many years. An email to the girls from Tom, on Jan 19, 2004

Dad called me awhile ago and told me the sad news about Bob. Killed in an auto accident as he came back from visiting his son Bob Jr. in St. Louis. 

It’s really a surprise. Our old neighbor was around for so many years and we didn’t know it. We happened across him again just in the nick of time.

Dad and I had that good visit with him last month down in Caledonia. Dad had found Bob in that town a few years before by accident — after losing track of him for several decades. We went to the little restaurant Bob owned, where Dad had found Bob the other time, and his wife called Bob on the phone to say he had visitors. 

About 10 minutes later, Bob Ryan came in crying and smiling at the same time. Last year he’d gone looking for Dad in the nursing homes around Washington and couldn’t find him. He was afraid Dad was gone. “I’m so glad to see you, Bill,” he said, bending over Dad’s chair and shaking his hand.

Now it’s Bob who is gone.

Bob was 35 years older than when I knew him, and I’ve never been able to remember him very clearly, but within a couple minutes of visiting with him I started to see the young Bob in his face and recognize the voice and the way of talking. I realized how well I did remember him — that I just didn’t know the memories were there.

Bob talked about how much he’d loved the little log house they bought from us and lived in, and how much he used to enjoy spending time with Dad. He talked about sitting on the porch with Dad in the evening, drinking beer and wine with him, and about one morning when Dad took him for a ride in the Model-T and showed him some wild turkey. “I’ve been telling people about that all these years,” he said. “I think about that life out there all the time.”

As Dad was getting in the car, later, Bob took me aside and apologized that he’d kept getting tearful during the visit. “I was just so glad to see him,” he explained. “I always liked Bill like he was my own dad.”

After that, Dad and I drove into “downtown” Caledonia and went into a local ice cream parlor. Dad hadn’t had any ice cream for a few hours. As Dad introduced himself to the proprietors,  one of the customers in the store suddenly spoke up. “Bill Beaver!” he said in a glad, surprised way. “Why, Bob Ryan talks about you all the time!”

Bob told us he’d love to see “Susan and Debbie.” He said he’d be coming up to visit Dad now and then, now that he knew where he lived, and that he’d like it if he could see the two little girls one of those times, maybe everyone have a meal together. I told him Sue and Deb would enjoy seeming him again.

Another thing Bob told me was, there’s one thing he’s always wanted from New York. He said if it wasn’t too much trouble, would I mind trying to find him a New York Dodger’s baseball cap. I told him I would. I started asking around this week. One hat vendor told me to stop by next week, that he’d have one for me.

That visit with Bob was really a nice surprise. He was enjoyable to talk to, he had happy memories of the time when we were neighbors out there in Holiday Ranch, and he was very fond of Dad. Dad’s been looking forward to spending time with Bob, and I think Bob must have been looking forward to it as well. Bob was going to keeps his eyes open for a piece of property for me to buy. “I know exactly what you’re looking for,” he told me.

I just wanted to share that with you guys. Bob seemed like a big-hearted person and he was a friend of the family.

I’m attaching a picture I took of Dad and Bob. Kathy, if you get a chance maybe you could print it out for Dad on your photo printer. This is just a low-res copy. I’ll send Dad a higher-res print later, but Dad might enjoy showing the picture at the funeral, if he can find a way to get there and  ifyou have a chance to get him your printout.

Hope all of you are well.

Tom