Death notice, New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 13 June 2022:
Ryan, Fr Anthony Patrick S.J. On June 5th at Nazareth House Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. Son of the late Thomas and Marjorie Ryan (Gisborne, New Zealand). Fr Anthony entered the Jesuit novitiate on 17th February 1958, in 1963 he went to Hazaribag in India and was ordained on 5th March 1969. Fr. Anthony spent the period from 1963 until 2019 in many and varied ministries across India. He returned to Australia in 2019 and resided at Campion House Kew before going to Nazareth House during the last stage of his life. Fr Anthony will be remembered by his family, fellow Jesuits and his many friends and colleagues in India for over 55 years of tireless and faithful ministry. Rest in Peace. Concelebrated Requiem Mass in Thanksgiving for the life Fr Anthony Patrick Ryan S.J. will be offered at the Immaculate Conception Church Burwood Road Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia on Wednesday June 15th at 10.30am The burial will take place on Thursday June 16th at 11.00am at the Melbourne General Cemetery, College Crescent, Carlton. Access webcast by visiting tributes page at www.tobinbrothers. com.au.

---

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017, post-publication supplement:
Ryan, Anthony (HAZ)

Missionary, treasurer; born Gisborne, New Zealand, 27 October 1939; died Melbourne, Victoria, 5 June 2022, aged 82.

Anthony Patrick Ryan was educated first at St Joseph's Convent School, and the Marist Brothers' School, Gisborne, New Zealand, and then finished his secondary education at the Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch. With the thought of becoming a missionary, Ryan entered the Jesuit noviciate at Loyola College, Watsonia, 17 February 1958, followed by philosophy studies, 1960-62. Never really captivated by academic work, he considered intellectual pursuits as only a means to an end. His focus was always pastoral.

Having been assigned to the Australian mission in Hazaribag, India, in 1963, Ryan's regency was at St Xavier's, Hazaribag, 1963-65. While teaching was not one of Ryan's strengths, he was remembered for his ability to have fun and to make others laugh, to act with compassion and authenticity, and to motivate and inspire his students to imitate him. He was affectionately remembered for being so human.

After St Xavier's, Ryan went to the Teacher's Training Institute in Sitagarha to study Hindi, and then to theology studies at St Mary's College, Kurseong, West Bengal, 1966-69. He was ordained, 5 March 1969, at St Stanislaus College, Sitagarha, by Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. Tertianship was at Bangalore, India, 1974-75. He was professed at St Xavier's, Hazaribag, 15 August 1976.

Ryan's first appointment was as treasurer at St Xavier's, 1970-74, a school of 400 boarders. He also taught, coached sport, and monitored the senior boarders.

Then he was appointed treasurer in the new diocese of Daltonganj, 1975-85, where he set up accounting and administration systems. He also took on the role of director of Catholic Relief Service. Daltonganj, in the post famine years, was a hub for wide-reaching 'food for work' and rural development programmes which Ryan and his team actively coordinated.

Over the years, Ryan developed a prowess for finance, accounting, and administration, spending 48 years working in treasury and finance roles within the diocese, as well as in Hazaribag Jesuit institutions, and in the wider province.

Fellow Jesuit missionaries praised Ryan for these financial skills, and for being the enabler of multiple ministries, even across India. He was sympathetic and encouraging of any creative ideas and was known for cutting through bureaucratic tape to get projects up and running.

Paul Horan remembered Ryan's pioneering efforts in establishing the first computer laboratory at St Xavier's Hazaribag, and he did this without any formal training in IT. He taught himself the computer language, Cobol, and even wrote financial management programmes for treasurers, as well as time-tabling tools for teachers.

Ryan was appointed Vicar General of the Daltonganj diocese, 1980-85, as well as director of the Teacher's Training Institute, Sitagarha, and Vivek Sadan community at Daltonganj. Throughout his ministries Ryan kept a low profile, preferring to simply work humbly at the task in hand.

In 1998, he was elected at the Province Congregation to report to the Jesuit General in Rome on province affairs.

Former provincial of Hazaribag, Edward Mudavassery praised Ryan for being 'the architect of building a strong financial foundation for the Hazaribag province and the Daltonganj diocese. He helped several other provinces and the Jesuit conference of South Asia as well. He lived a simple life and exemplary poverty and generosity towards the needy co-workers and collaborators. He was hard working till the end. He was always available for helping others'.

Ryan enjoyed Jesuit community life of prayer and celebrations. He was experienced as 'private, down-to-earth and matter of fact. His generosity was unmatched'. He had dead pan humour and the unique ability to pantomime any situation.

He worked until 2018, when poor health necessitated rest and treatment at St Stanislaus College, Sitagarha.

He then returned to Australia and Campion House in 2019 managing his health. He had multiple health problems, that included deteriorating eyesight, about which he never complained. Those who lived with him described him as 'indomitable', never letting his condition confine him to home or subdue him. He ranged far and wide around Melbourne in his scooter, which he dubbed 'Melchizedek'.

His final residence was Nazareth House, Camberwell, from 2021, where he died.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)