Robert Kevin Ryan
MECHANIC FALLS – Robert Kevin Ryan “Bob”, 92, of Mechanic Falls, died peacefully and unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.
He was born in Quincy, Mass. on June 3, 1932, the son of Gordon N. Ryan and Agnes E.C. (Clara) Nicholson Ryan. He grew up in Quincy, and Marshfield, Mass. where he enjoyed working on inventions as a young boy, hanging out with his pals while playing their musical instruments, Bob on the piano.
He treasured his time spent with, and the lessons he learned from his Grandpa Nicholson, who like Bob also created whatever piece of equipment that was needed to get the job done. He was a mischievous child, no doubt getting this trait from his dad. In his youth he enjoyed being with his dad lobstering and digging clams, then selling the clams door to door on his bicycle. He enjoyed the time he spent working alongside his dad; he and his dad became great friends as adults.
His family moved to Monmouth in 1950. On Feb. 26, 1955, he married his wife, Nancy Pearl Gray, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winthrop. She passed away in 2003. Bob and Nancy raised their seven children at their home in Mechanic Falls, where he had resided for the past 63 years.
Among many other God given talents, Bob was a brilliant heavy equipment mechanic, welder, inventor, engineer, wood carver, to name a few. He was also a very talented, self-taught piano player, playing by ear. He enjoyed playing the harmonica too, almost always carried it on his person. When he was in his early 80s, he was commissioned by a friend to create a life size train from scrap metal, which he named the “Silver Belle”.
Bob engineered and created many metal creations including flag poles for friends and family. He played musical instruments by ear, which was especially appreciated by his children when they were young, as he would play the piano as they fell asleep at night. Bob and Nancy enjoyed taking their children on many road and camping trips. Being down to the coast at the islands of Orr’s, Bailey, and Richmond, held many fond memories for him, of camping with Nancy, their children, and friends, and digging clams, and lobstering.
He enjoyed helping people and was generous with his time and knowledge. He enjoyed doing the crossword puzzle and sudoku in the daily newspaper, playing cribbage, pitching horseshoes, and until a couple of months ago, he enjoyed clam digging and giving them to friends, and strangers. Up until his passing, he was pleased that he still held a current Commercial Driver’s license. Many will remember seeing him about town, driving his beloved wrecker truck.
He was a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Winthrop as well as a member of the parish of Our Lady of Ransom Church in Mechanic Falls. Bob was a passionate Catholic, sharing this passion with children and adults alike. It was his passion that people would pray the Rosary. He offered pamphlets on “How to Pray the Rosary” to assist them. He cared so much about his fellow mankind, brothers and sisters in Christ. He would often note and share the “holy moments” that occur in our everyday lives. It was important to Bob that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools and in state and federal government buildings.
Bob is survived by his children, Kevin R. Ryan and his sons Kevin II and Jeremy; Belinda J. Lemay and her son Roland; Kelly R. Maltz, her husband Rick and their children, Erica, Lauren, and Jake; Gordon H. Ryan, his wife Susan, and their daughter Abigail; Lewis A. Ryan, his wife Jackie and their children, Ashley, Joshua, and Michael; Lisa D. Dionne, her husband Randy and their children Briana, Matthew, and Jacob; and Michael J. Ryan, his wife Christie-Lee and daughter, Elizabeth Nancy; and 16 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Miriam Ryan Charlton, and Kathy Ryan Chadburn; many nieces and nephews; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; cousins; and many great friends.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Nancy; and infant son, Joseph; his son-in-law, Arthur J. Lemay; and grandsons Arthur J. Lemay III and Benjamin M. Ryan; sister Claire Ryan Hannon and by brothers John, Thomas, Charles, and Richard.
Bob’s visiting hours will be held on Friday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, with a celebration of life to follow at St. Francis Xavier Church in the reception hall, 130 U.S. Route 133, Winthrop.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, immediately followed by a burial at Fayette Mills Cemetery, Tom Surrey Road, Fayette. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.
Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Roberts Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com