Obituary for Franklin Russell Ryan Jr.
Franklin R. Ryan, Jr., 55, of Flemington, NJ, died at his home, surrounded by the family he cherished on May 27, 2019.
Born in Flemington, Frank was a lifelong area resident. A vice-president and IT manager in CADD and Engineering Application for WSP USA, Frank was based in their Princeton area office. He was with the company for 34 years, managing software licensing, providing technical support for the companies offices at home and abroad and training of staff. He was highly regarded by his WSP associates and the CADD community world wide. He played softball for the company’s ball league and worked the pit crew at the Flemington Raceway.
Away from work, Frank was dedicated to his family. He was a man of many interests and loved sharing his enthusiasm with those he loved. One of his favorite things was “beach life” on Long Beach Island. He loved his “beach life” community at Lindy’s Trailer Park and being on the water. Fishing, clamming, crabbing, kayaking, sunsets and hanging out at the sandbar were all favorite activities that he shared with his family and “beach life” friends. As big a man as Frank was in stature, he had a sweetness of personality and smile to match. Rarely would you ever hear him utter a mean or unkind word to or about anyone. “You’ll never regret being kind” were words that he tried to live by. He was always there lending a helping hand to everyone, sometimes without anyone realizing there was a need. His love and devotion to his wife Elise was evident to everyone. He was the man that people instantly liked and enjoyed being around. He was generous, always looking out for those worse off, kind, extremely jocular in a respectful way but very humble when required. He had an aura of quiet sensibility that inspired confidence in his leadership, He was a die hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, always hoping to live long enough to see them win a Superbowl which he happily did. At home in Flemington Frank loved to garden, bird watch and be outside He loved hanging out on the lawn at night to watch fireflies, gaze up at the stars, planets and satellites while drinking a Coors Lite. He loved his dogs. He loved Christmas. He loved time spent as a family.
Frank was the son of the late Carmen Lo Verso Wyckoff and Franklin R. Ryan, Sr. and the stepson of the late Richard C. Wyckoff. Frank is survived by his wife Elise M. Bonner Ryan; his daughter and son-in-law Rachel and Ricardo Santos of Cartersville, GA; his sons Christopher and Timothy A. Ryan of Flemington; his grandchildren Aidan and Layla Santos of Cartersville; his brother Steve Ryan of New Hope, PA; his step-sister and her husband Heather and Christopher Harbach of Germany; his mother-in-law Mary Bonner of Frenchtown and his father-in-law Alan Bonner of Kansas City, MO.
Life Celebration Services will be held at 12 noon on Friday, June 7, at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ (vhmfh.com).
Calling hours at the funeral home on Friday morning from 10 am until the start of services.
In lieu of flowers an education fund will be established for the benefit of Frank's children and grandchildren, details of which will follow.
Born in Flemington, Frank was a lifelong area resident. A vice-president and IT manager in CADD and Engineering Application for WSP USA, Frank was based in their Princeton area office. He was with the company for 34 years, managing software licensing, providing technical support for the companies offices at home and abroad and training of staff. He was highly regarded by his WSP associates and the CADD community world wide. He played softball for the company’s ball league and worked the pit crew at the Flemington Raceway.
Away from work, Frank was dedicated to his family. He was a man of many interests and loved sharing his enthusiasm with those he loved. One of his favorite things was “beach life” on Long Beach Island. He loved his “beach life” community at Lindy’s Trailer Park and being on the water. Fishing, clamming, crabbing, kayaking, sunsets and hanging out at the sandbar were all favorite activities that he shared with his family and “beach life” friends. As big a man as Frank was in stature, he had a sweetness of personality and smile to match. Rarely would you ever hear him utter a mean or unkind word to or about anyone. “You’ll never regret being kind” were words that he tried to live by. He was always there lending a helping hand to everyone, sometimes without anyone realizing there was a need. His love and devotion to his wife Elise was evident to everyone. He was the man that people instantly liked and enjoyed being around. He was generous, always looking out for those worse off, kind, extremely jocular in a respectful way but very humble when required. He had an aura of quiet sensibility that inspired confidence in his leadership, He was a die hard Philadelphia Eagles fan, always hoping to live long enough to see them win a Superbowl which he happily did. At home in Flemington Frank loved to garden, bird watch and be outside He loved hanging out on the lawn at night to watch fireflies, gaze up at the stars, planets and satellites while drinking a Coors Lite. He loved his dogs. He loved Christmas. He loved time spent as a family.
Frank was the son of the late Carmen Lo Verso Wyckoff and Franklin R. Ryan, Sr. and the stepson of the late Richard C. Wyckoff. Frank is survived by his wife Elise M. Bonner Ryan; his daughter and son-in-law Rachel and Ricardo Santos of Cartersville, GA; his sons Christopher and Timothy A. Ryan of Flemington; his grandchildren Aidan and Layla Santos of Cartersville; his brother Steve Ryan of New Hope, PA; his step-sister and her husband Heather and Christopher Harbach of Germany; his mother-in-law Mary Bonner of Frenchtown and his father-in-law Alan Bonner of Kansas City, MO.
Life Celebration Services will be held at 12 noon on Friday, June 7, at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ (vhmfh.com).
Calling hours at the funeral home on Friday morning from 10 am until the start of services.
In lieu of flowers an education fund will be established for the benefit of Frank's children and grandchildren, details of which will follow.