Democracy for Cincinnati lost a founding member

Written by: Lynn Worpenberg on Jul 15, 2009 10:30 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Blog For America, Democracy for Cincinnati

Democracy for Cincinnati lost one of our founders last week.  Jim Ryan lost his 6+ year battle with cancer, a battle that did not stop him from working tirelessly with Cincinnati for Dean and just as tirelessly with Democracy for Cincinnati.  

I first met Jim and his wife Memory at a Dean for America meetup.  Remember those first meetups?  Everyone charged up about this candidate who was finally saying the things we were all thinking!  We were so excited to finally have a candidate we could believe in, and every month brought new members to the meetups! 

Here in Cincinnati we were fortunate to have a member who had the means to rent a space for our headquarters.  It was an old storefront/office space down on Main Street.  A little worse for the wear, and no door on the one working bathroom (someone brought in a screen).  But we quickly cleaned it up and filled it with donated desks, tables, chairs, phones and everything else we needed for the campaign

Then we filled it with people - including Jim and Memory.  And these amazing people, who certainly had enough on their plate already, became fixtures at headquarters, working tirelessly as members of a very dedicated work force.

I remember going down to headquarters the day Governor Dean suspended his campaign, feeling so defeated.  Jim and Memory were there.  I remember talking with Jim as he encouraged me to stay involved and keep fighting for the progressive cause. 

And we did.  We quickly formed Democracy for Cincinnati and got involved in other campaigns. One of our first campaigns was for Greg Harris who was running for Congress (for the seat then occupied by Steve Chabot).  Greg was a Dean supporter who shared our headquarters so we were already involved in his campaign.  Once DFA was officially formed and started recruiting Dean Dozen candidates we started our campaign to have Greg selected as our own Dean Dozen candidate - and we were successful!  Greg's picture hangs on the wall at Headquarters with the other Dean Dozen members (at least it did when I visited a few years back). 

Jim and Memory were active in that effort and in Greg's congressional campaign.  They stayed active working for local, state and national campaigns.  Jim led our legislative committee and hosted our monthly DFC meetings at his condo clubhouse.  We held our meetings there until Jim's health prevented him from attending meetings - a little over a year ago. 

Jim and Memory were unable to be as active during this last election cycle something I know they regretted, but they kept up to date and Memory stayed involved as much as she could, working mainly as a rapid response 'operative'.  And they were both thrilled at the victories in November of 2008.  Both Obama's victory and the victories of our local candidates - particularly that of Steve Driehaus who finally defeated Steve Chabot!

I called Jim and Memory from the Obama party on election night - they were sad to miss it but thrilled to be able to witness that long awaited victory.  I am so glad that Jim lived to see that day and was still with us for inauguration day.  I thank God for that.  And I thank God for allowing me the honor of my friendship with Jim Ryan.  He will be sorely missed. 

RYAN James J. (Jim) Ryan, whose legal career spanned 50 years in the city of Cincinnati, passed away on July 8. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1949 then Xavier University's Honors program in 1953. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army Artillery 1953 and was later transferred to Army Judge Advocate General Corp., rising to the rank of Major in the Army Reserve. Following military service, Jim completed law school at the University of Cincinnati and became a partner in the firm of Steer, Strauss, White and Tobias where he maintained a general practice in business law with emphasis on public utility litigation. He worked as an attorney, mediator and arbitrator until shortly before his death. Jim volunteered his services on a regular basis, among those being as a representative of citizens arrested for minor charges during the civil unrest of the 1960's, as an active member of the Family Life Bureau, and as co-President of the St. Francis de Sales Deanery where he was key in the development and launch of Project Commitment, an eight-week focused experience in interracial dialogue. He maintained a behind-the-scenes but constant presence in community and political affairs, including support of progressive candidates and with Democracy For America and Democracy For Cincinnati in particular. Jim will be remembered for his commitment, integrity and relentless pursuit of fairness along with a sharp wit, humor and love of life. He is survived by his wife Memory, his son James Jr., and wife Meg, daughter Shannon Ryan Pippenger and husband Jason, daughter Heather Ryan, grandchildren Carrie, Cate, Brigid and James Ryan and Jake, Kiley, Jack and Emmy Pippenger. His family mourns his loss but gratefully returns him to the loving arms of God. The memory of his kindness, humility and quiet but strong stewardship will live in our hearts forever. Mass at St. Bernard Winton Place at 740 Derby Avenue (off Winton Rd.) 5 p.m. Thursday, July 16. Receiving line at 4:00 pm. Following the Mass, friends are invited to the reception and celebration of Jim's life to be held at the Maisons Lafayette Clubhouse. In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Jim may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati at www.hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate.html, or mailed to PO Box 633597, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263-3597.

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Location: Cincinnati, OH 45202