From his first year teaching in 1971 until his retirement this spring, Mr. Tom Ryan has given so much to generations of students and to Saint David’ s School. His talents, devotion, and character are truly remarkable. This article will give an incomplete, but hopefully representative, summary of the many ways in which he contributed to the life of the school for more than half a century. Although he has done very many things at Saint David’ s, Tom is probably best known as an English teacher. Everyone who meets him quickly discovers that he is a true lover of language, especially of the written word, and generations of students have been the lucky recipients of this enthusiasm. To name just a few highlights of his English teaching: There were his dramatic readings of Shakespeare plays in eighth grade, replete with running commentary about each pun, metaphor, and allusion. There was his expert guidance through the fantastic labyrinth of The Count of Monte Cristo and its countless memorable characters, culminating in his yearly“ Count Challenge” competition, complete with leaderboards. Tom made literature come alive by bringing his seventh graders to the school’ s“ crypt” for a thrilling presentation of Poe’ s“ The Cask of Amontillado.” Likewise, his composition assignments emphasized personal expression and creativity, hallmarks of his own writing style. After reading Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, his students wrote their own poetic, often humorous, epitaphs for real and fictional individuals; his seventh graders used their imagination to describe what happened to the boys in Lord of the Flies after they were rescued from the uninhabited island. And, as for grammar lessons, Tom’ s humor and originality showed how unjustified the allegation is that that subject can’ t be engaging and fun.( Ask his students who Mr.“ Avdo Lvpn” is.) Athletics is a pillar at Saint David’ s, and it is also a major part of who Tom is, in his life both in and out of school. For more than a decade he was our Athletic Director, and he also coached basketball, soccer, softball, and even fencing, as well as refereeing soccer and basketball. He consistently promoted the ideals of fairness, sportsmanship, and love of the game. On the sidelines with a microphone, he provided commentary that added color and excitement to basketball games such as the one between the faculty and the students. For unknown reasons, he became the confidante of the devoted fan and
globetrotting man of mystery, Charles Osgood( not the newsman), whose epistolary exhortations Tom conveyed to the soccer team before each yearly big game against St. Bernard’ s.
And, of course, there is baseball, and more specifically the Yankees. No superlatives can adequately describe Tom’ s love for, and encyclopedic knowledge about, the sport and the team. Nevertheless, it’ s worth mentioning at least some things in this regard. There was Tom’ s yearly baseball card Chapel talk, during which he would open a sealed vintage pack from his vast collection dating back to his childhood, offering detailed impromptu comments about great, less than great, and completely forgotten players. In this memorable way, he taught each boy to look for and cultivate interests that will give lifelong satisfaction. And then there was his Hot Stove afterschool fantasy baseball club, which culminated each season with
Everyone who meets Tom quickly discovers that he is a true lover of language, especially of the written word, and generations of students have been the lucky recipients of this enthusiasm.
the redolent cooking of hotdogs on Tom’ s George Foreman grill.
For Tom, baseball is also a bridge between the athletic and the aesthetic. His homeroom was a marvel— a museum of the game, and the most visually immersive classroom at Saint David’ s, in which a student could look at something new each day of the school year. Tom promoted the musical and performing arts as well, sharing his love of 1950s and 1960s pop music by providing a constant flow of songs during the early morning homeroom period, and, after donning his signature red fedora for the occasion, acting as impresario, emcee, and comedian( with the best prepared ad libs in show business) during the Christmas Assembly extravaganza.
And then there is spirituality. Yes, Tom was also a religion teacher
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