Dr. O’ Halloran’ s and Alumni Tributes to Mr. Ryan
A Quintessential Teacher of Boys.
Storytelling, Banter, Literature, Yankees,“ Hot Stove” and“ Canticle,” Emcee extraordinaire and so much more …
It all began in 1971 at 12 East 89th Street, Room 35 when Tom Ryan, 21, an English-major graduate from Fordham began his first day at Saint David’ s. Hired by then-Headmaster David Hume as sixth-grade homeroom, English, history, geography, math, and religion teacher, he was understandably nervous and uncertain.“ At the time, fresh out of college, I never expected to make my career in teaching,” he notes.
Some 55 years later, we share the news that Tom will be retiring from Saint David’ s this June, as the longest serving faculty member in the school’ s history.
A highly relational teacher, Tom knows the importance of humor in motivating and reaching boys, and he makes sure to personally connect with and hear from each student during every class. His recall of former students is remarkable; he can cite where they sat in the classroom, their best friends’ names, the generations of families.“ There’ s such a strong connection,” he says.“ When I saw all those graduates at the 75th Anniversary Benefit, I felt that bond, that link.”
To this day, it gives Tom great joy when returning alumni cite The Count of Monte Cristo as their favorite book of all time – a primary goal of his teaching has been to develop boys’ interest in reading good literature. He also has been deeply committed to instilling in his students our mission’ s call to do good for others, having guided the boys in myriad efforts throughout six decades, including delivering holiday gifts with his sixth graders to The Foundling during a snow storm, supporting the victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, overseeing the Ethiopia schools initiative, and leading the schoolwide Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Mr. Ryan’ s storied decades-spanning career at Saint David’ s also included assuming the role of Athletics Director in the eighties, which he enjoyed because of the opportunity it afforded him to get to know more of the boys.