William E. Cleary Sr. | Gloucester City News
Gloucester City, NJ, SEPTEMBER 1, 1988-John J. Ryan Jr., a World War II veteran, pilot, and longtime journalist, died after a short illness, of cancer, Tuesday, August 23, 1988, in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital , Camden City.
Mr. Ryan, age 71, was a feature writer, photographer, and advertising manager for the Gloucester City News, from 1981 to the present. He was responsible for putting together the special editions and articles that appeared periodically, saluting various local people and organizations. On a weekly basis, he serviced and prepared the advertisements for 30 businesses for the newspaper.
“Without a doubt, the Gloucester City News will miss John Ryan,” said William E. Cleary Sr., editor and publisher.
“John was a true journalist in every sense of the word. He gave you a 110 percent on every story he wrote and every advertisement he prepared. He was such well-versed journalist that I often relied on him as my mentor”
Cleary said, “while visiting him at the hospital four days before he died, John, in a lot of pain, whispers, ‘Bill, there is a mistake in one of the ads in this week’s paper. Talk to the customer and smooth things over before he sees it.”
“That is insignificant compared to the loss that I, along with all who knew him feel inside. I was proud to know him as a person and a friend. He was quiet, yet his smile and his charm would warm the innards of your heart. He was a man of vision. He had the ability to see things that others missed. A man of integrity and honesty, he had a great love for Gloucester City. John is at peace now, and I know if there is a heaven, he is there, working sitting at a typewriter writing the next edition.”
Mr. Ryan was born in 1916 in Philadelphia and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Camden. After graduation he attended classes at the Campbell Soup Department of the Campbell Soup Co. in Camden. At the same time he attended evening classes at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School studying management.
From 1939 until the outbreak of World War II he was the owner of the Bi-Town Ornamental Ironworks that serviced the municipalities of Audubon and Oaklyn. He was a World War II B-17 bomber pilot with the 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He flew 25 missions over Germany and France, including raids on oil refineries and bombing runs on industrial centers.
During the Korean War, he was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts and served as a flight instructor. During the mid-1950s, Mr. Ryan was transferred to the Strategic Air Command Base at Westover, Mass.
Prior to his military service, Mr. Ryan had moved with his family to the Audubon area, where he served as managing editor of the small Valley Press newspaper. When he returned to South Jersey he became active in civic organizations in Gloucester City and surrounding towns.
Mr. Ryan was a member of Townsend C. Young VFW Post 3620, of Gloucester City. He was also a member of the Moose and Elk Lodges in North Wildwood. John liked listening to Ann Murray, and long walks on the beach
