By Grace Feltoe
The Requiem Mass of well-known Ocean Reef parishioner Hugh Ryan, teacher, writer and communications and media professional, was celebrated at St Simon Peter Church, Ocean Reef, with family and life-long friends present, paying their respects to a man who lived a full and faith-centred life.
Mr Ryan was born on 1January 1940 in Bridgetown as one of four children, though, sadly, his mother, Angela, passed when Mr Ryan was only 18 months old.
The siblings remained close throughout their lives, despite physical distances, and were present at his funeral in May.
Mr Ryan attended a Sisters of Mercy boarding school in Donnybrook from the age of four where he made life-long friends, some of whom were present at his funeral to walk by his casket, along with his four nephews.
He moved to St Ildephonsus’ Boys School in New Norcia to complete his secondary education, gaining his certificate at the young age of 16 and being named Dux of the college in what was a competitive year of academic students.
Mr Ryan was known to be incredibly intelligent and gifted. He was an avid reader, passionate about languages and possessed an excellent memory.
He also had a love for intellectual discussion and his skill for public speaking was well honed.
As a young student, Mr Ryan represented Western Australia on occasion for debating, being an active participant in school debating teams.
On graduating high school, he gained his qualification from Teachers’ College and took up his first teaching position in Collie where he met his future wife, Joy Mitchell.
During this time, Mr Ryan resolved to become a journalist and gained a new position in 1962 at the Kyambram Free Press, Victoria.
He subsequently re-located to Victoria alone, with Joy and her family following some six months later and they married on 23June 1962.
Daughter Carmel was born the following year and six months later they moved back to Collie to be closer to their families.
It was there Mr Ryan gained a position with The Collie Mail.
In 1970, the family moved to Perth to settle in West Leederville for a year so Mr Ryan could commence his new position with The West Australian Newspaper before heading to Port Hedland in 1971 to be correspondent for The Northwest Telegraph.
The family became involved in the community, helping fundraise for the school and parish.
On their return to Perth, Mr Ryan continued his work for The West Australian in 1973 and became Chief of Staff.
Through his networking, he was offered the position of Press Secretary and Speechwriter for a government minister and was soon offered a position by then state Premier, Sir Charles Court.
In this new role, he was given the opportunity to travel extensively within Australia and overseas.
A defining moment in his life was when he undertook a personal development course in 1985. It gave him the inspiration and desire to teach these skills to others to share how he had been empowered.
He did this for several years before working under the next Premier, Richard Court, Sir Charles Court’s son, as Press Secretary and Speechwriter once again.
Throughout the years, Mr Ryan had an increasing desire to help the Church, alongside his deepening faith.
This led him to develop a seminar, in line with the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, to develop skills of meditation. He regularly held seminars and supported those in the RCIA program.
Before retiring in December 2009, Mr Ryan finished his career with a very happy period working for the Church, writing, sub-editing and proofreading for The Record, all the while being Press Secretary to then Archbishop of Perth, Barry Hickey.
Mr Ryan passed away on 19 April 2022.
He will be remembered for a keen sense of humour, as well as kindness and compassion towards others, both of which were expressed in various ways in the eulogy at his funeral.
In her eulogy, daughter Carmel Ryan said his qualities and presence will be missed by his family and those who knew him.
“We can reflect on his life and express gratitude that we knew this special man,” she said.