[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO THOMAS C. RYAN

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to a 
man of true courage, a man of boundless compassion, and a man of great 
character. Today, I rise to pay tribute to fellow Rutland, Vermont 
resident and friend to many, Tom Ryan.
  Tom was born October 14, 1930, the son of Charles F. and Mary Ryan. 
He graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in 1948, from Georgetown 
University, Magna Cum Laude, in 1952 and the Wharton School of Business 
MBA program in 1955.
  Bound by a sense of duty and service to country, Tom courageously 
served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and 
later continued his service in the Reserves.
  Tom was a skilled banker and a businessman, yet he was always more 
focused on people than on profit. In his eloquent eulogy, Stephen K. 
Ryan called his father, Tom a ``leader,'' and I can't think of a more 
dedicated community leader than Tom. He served on numerous boards, 
including: the Vermont Achievement Center; Vermont Children's Aid 
Society; Small Business Investment Corp.; Economic Development Council 
for Southwestern Vermont; Vermont Development Credit Corp.; Vermont 
Bankers Association; Rotary Club; Rutland Downtown Development Corp.; 
Rutland County Solid Waste; United Way; Paramount Theatre; Rutland West 
Neighborhood Housing; and College of St. Joseph. I worked together with 
Tom in the effort to restore the Paramount Theatre to its original 
grandeur, and I'm so glad he was able to witness the fruits of his 
labor and the recent revitalization of our historic downtown.
  Stephen mentioned that Tom was ``proudest of the twelve years he 
served on the board of Rutland Hospital; bringing a better standard of 
care to the Rutland Region.'' As Chairman of the Senate Health 
Committee, I know that health care is one of the most important issues 
facing our country today, and I have enormous respect for those 
individuals working hard on the local level to improve the lives of 
patients and their families.
  Stephen stated that Tom ``was involved in politics, but he was not 
political.'' He ran for lieutenant governor in 1982, state senate in 
1990, and was appointed to the state transportation board in 1991. In 
every political endeavor, Tom was passionate but respectful, tough but 
civil.
  My wife, Liz, knew Tom's lovely wife, Mary, through their mutual 
interest in quilting. Liz used to tell me how Tom was an avid gardener, 
constantly improving the landscape surrounding their house and tending 
to his gardens. He loved his gardens so much, in fact, that family and 
friends were known to give him rocks for his birthday!
  But Liz and I both know that his greatest love was for Mary and their 
wonderful children, Stephen of Reston, Virginia, Kate Ryan Whittum of 
Intervale, New Hampshire, and Maura C. Ryan of Portland, Maine. He had 
his priorities in line and was always there for his loved ones.
  The editorial in the Rutland Daily Herald on December 18th, stated, 
``If any single word were appropriate for Tom Ryan, it would be 
'kindness.''' For me, it would be hard to describe Tom in one word, for 
he exemplified so many qualities for so many people. You will be 
greatly missed, Tom, but your legacy will live on in our hearts, our 
minds and your work that we will strive to continue.

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