James D. Ryan passed away peacefully on November 29th, 2022 at his home in Estero, Florida. He was born in Rochester, New York on July 26, 1932 to parents Pauline and William Ryan. After his father died in 1945, his mother remarried Ray Healy.

Jim graduated from Brighton High School in 1950, Hamilton College in 1954, and Harvard Business School in 1956. He was always grateful for the education he received and worked throughout his life to provide similar opportunities for others. Jim was a multi-sport athlete in high school and a four-year starter for the Hamilton College basketball team.

He married Joan Kinsky in 1956 and spent three years as an officer in the Army Finance Corps, residing in Indiana and Utah before moving back to Rochester. By that time there were three children with two more soon to arrive. Jim worked for Corning Glass and for Allerton Chemical before joining his brother Bill’s commercial real estate company. He ultimately started his own real estate company, RYCO Management, in 1972 before retiring in 2001.

Jim was involved with many non-profit, civic and corporate boards. He served as the Chair of many including: St. Ann’s Home, St. John Fisher College, and the HBS Club of Rochester. He served on boards for Central Trust, First National Bank of Rochester, Hamilton College, the Catholic Diocese Stewardship Council and the UR Medical Center. Jim was a proud member of Oak Hill Country Club for sixty-one years and served as President in 1976. In 2001, Jim and Joan found a new home in Estero, Florida where they became active members of West Bay Club.

In his retirement, Jim found new passions for stone sculpting and pickleball. He was a voracious reader and wrote numerous papers for “The Philosopher's Club of Rochester.” He loved nothing more than to challenge his friends and family about ideas on any subject and to engage in vigorous debates.

He and Joan were avid travelers, but out of all the places in the world he visited and lived, his heart belonged at Canandaigua Lake. It was there that he established a birthday tradition of diving off the 16-foot high board at the family home, completing his most recent dive on his 90th birthday in July.

Jim was predeceased by his parents and stepfather; his daughter-in-law, Sarah; and his siblings, Bill, Mary Martha, Richard, and Alan.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan, and children, Kerry (Steve) Incavo, Jim (Caroline), Rick (Dolores), Megan (J) Kelley and Maura (Fritz) Minges. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and their spouses; fourteen great-grandchildren (and counting); sisters-in-law, Ann and Joan Ryan; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim also enjoyed being an in-law of the large Kinsky-Ehmann clan.

Friends may call Thursday, December 8 from 4-7PM at Anthony Funeral Chapel (2305 Monroe Ave.). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 9, 10:30AM at St. Thomas More Church with a reception following at Oak Hill Country Club. The Mass will be livestreamed here.

Jim was a generous patron/donor to many charitable organizations and had a particular interest in supporting those with a rigorous educational mission. Should you wish to donate in his honor please consider Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, Michigan), Ava Maria University (Ave Maria, Florida), and Rochester Prep Charter School (Rochester, NY).