Joseph A. Ryan

After a 3-year struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, Joseph A. (Singing Joe) Ryan, died Monday, October 17, 2022 at home under the care of GHC Hospice, special Buckingham at Home caregivers, and his loving wife, Honey.

Joe was born January 9, 1941, at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown Savannah and lived his entire life in Savannah. He was raised in the area of downtown known as “The Old Fort” (corner of Broughton & Price) and on the corner of Gwinnett and Habersham Streets. He loved his family, especially his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved singing and enjoyed classical music and music of the Big Band era, especially Glen Miller and Frank Sinatra. He was an avid handyman and enjoyed fixing and building things.

Joe graduated from the Cathedral Parochial School in 1954 and from Benedictine Military School in 1958 and attended Armstrong State University. In his senior year at BC he was company commander of the Band, graduating with the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Outstanding Bandsman medal in his sophomore and senior years.

Joe was a member of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, a Past President of the Irish Heritage Society, and a 4th -degree member of the Knights of Columbus, council #631. A charter member of the Savannah Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the 13th Colony Sound Chorus, he was active for 53 years. He had held every office in the local chapter and was an Area Counselor for the Dixie District. For many years he was the assistant director, co-director, or the front line director of the men’s Barbershop chorus. Through the years he sang in many barbershop quartets, most notably The Tune Peddlers, Fully Invested, and the State Championship winning Tybee Lighthouse Quartet. He was the director of the Moon River Chorus, the women’s barbershop harmony chorus, for 20 years until the chorus folded. He was a Colonel in The Confederate Harmony Brigade (now the Southern Harmony Brigade), an honorary subsidiary of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Joe thoroughly enjoyed the many years he sang with the Men’s Choir at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, under the direction of Patty Barragan Schreck. He was a frequent soloist for weddings, funerals, and other special services at the Cathedral. For many years, he was also an adult altar server at the Cathedral. And, for approximately three years he served as choir director at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

In addition to Joe’s Irish heritage, he was an active member of the Coastal Scottish Heritage Society and the Savannah Scottish Games Committee where he served for many years as a Master of Ceremonies at the annual Scottish games event.

He served for several years as a First Aid Instructor with the American Red Cross and as a CPR instructor and instructor/trainer with the Georgia Heart Association. In 1979, while with the Georgia Heart Association, he was awarded the Bronze medallion for Meritorious Service for his leadership in implementing the CPR training program in Savannah.

Joe spent almost 25 years as a lab technician. Twenty-two of those years were with Kaiser Agricultural Chemical Corp.; and later he worked in that capacity with the City of Savannah’s Pollution Control Plant. He spent 15 years with Intermarine Savannah as a warehouseman, leaving as warehouse supervisor. After “retirement,” he worked part-time for Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home for 4-1/2 years prior to its closing. He later worked for Fairhaven Funeral Home which subsequently became Baker McCullough Funeral Home.

Joseph Aloysius Ryan, Sr was preceded in death by his parents Ira James (Sr.) and Mary Cooper Ryan of Savannah; a granddaughter, Danielle Ashley Ryan of Aurora, CO; his sister, Ann Ryan Walsh and her husband Raymond of Savannah, GA; his brother William T. (Bill) Ryan and his wife Patricia Heriot Ryan of Merritt Island, FL; his brother, Ira J. “Tim” Ryan Jr. of Savannah and his brother-in-law, Herbert P. (Pat) Dillon. He is also pre-deceased by his childhood best friend William J. “Bill” Walsh of Savannah (formerly of Silver Spring, MD).

He is survived by his wife, Linda B. (Honey) Ryan, his sister Marie Ryan Dillon of Woodstock, GA, and sister-in-law Mary McDonald Ryan of Savannah. He is also survived by his five children and their spouses: Catherine “Cathy” Pershey (Richard) of Chattanooga, TN; Joseph A. “Al” Ryan Jr. (Pam) of Warner Robins, GA; Elizabeth “Beth” George (Don) of Savannah, GA; Sharon Coker (Mike) of Shelby, NC; Ira J. “Jim” Ryan II (Kathy) of Savannah, GA. In addition, he is survived by eight grandchildren: Bradley Fulcher (Kristina) of East Dublin, GA; Richard Pershey (Terri) of Chattanooga, TN; Tyler Ryan of Denver, CO; Samantha Coker Collins (Kenny) of Shelby, NC; Brooke Fulcher VanOtteren (Zach) of Register, GA; Thomas Coker of Savannah, GA; Benjamin Coker (Miranda) of Jefferson City, TN; and MaeRose Ryan of Savannah, GA. Great-grandchildren Lilliana, Elliott, Addison, and Natalie Pershey; Hadley, Charlotte, and Magnolia VanOtteren; Grayson and Beckett Collins; Maisie Coker and Kylee and Kayson Willis (Fulcher); by many nieces and nephews, and by the mother of his children, Sarah Sowers Ryan Stuart.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to7:00 PM, Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive with a rosary service at 6 PM. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, October 21, 2022 at 10:00 AM at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Burial will follow in Catholic Cemetery.

The family has asked that memorial donations be made to Benedictine Military School, 6502 Seawright Dr., Savannah, GA 31406, or the Harmony Foundation (of the Barbershop Harmony Society), 110 Seventh Ave. N., Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37203.