Concord Honors Late Retired Fire Chief Richard Ryan

CONCORD, MA – Concord honored retired Fire Chief Richard Ryan on Wednesday with a funeral procession through town.

Ryan, who served as fire chief from 1978 to 1995, died Dec. 16 at the age of 83.

The Concord Fire Department stood in formation as Ryan's procession passed the station Wednesday, and the town flew its flag at half-staff in recognition of his military service.

Ryan's obituary is below:

Richard S. Ryan, of Concord, Retired Fire Chief (CFD), died on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Emerson Hospital.

He was the beloved husband for thirty years of Judith (Holt) Ryan and the late Patricia J. (McCarthy) Ryan, cherished father of Michael W. Ryan and his wife Mary of Middletown, RI and Matthew L. Ryan and his husband Jonathan Cooper of New York City, loving step-father of Tania Gordon and her husband David of Solon, OH, Aaron Stern and his wife Rachele Manning of Natick, and Yuri Stern and his wife Eliza Minsch of Sudbury, dear grandfather of Callie and Jack Gordon, Belle and Addie Stern, and Ruby and Sabine Stern. He was also the brother of the late Molly Charbonneau and William G. Ryan, Jr.

Funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 21st at 8 am from the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center, followed by a funeral Mass at 9 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center.

Burial will follow at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord where Officers of the U.S. Army will recognize Chief Ryan's honorable service by presenting military honors.

Visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home are on Tuesday, December 20th from 4 to 8 pm. Officers and members of the Concord Fire Department will serve as honor guard.

Concord's Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Wednesday, December 21st in recognition of his service to his country in the U.S. Army.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Concord Firefighters’ Relief Association, 209 Walden St., Concord, MA 01742. Arrangements are under the care of the Dee Funeral Home of Concord.

Obituary and photo courtesy of Dee Funeral Home