By Mary Ryan
The Sandymount Community were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Vincent Ryan, late of Sandymount Avenue in October 2023. Vincent died in the care of the professional staff of the Cardiac Unit of Cork University Hospital.
A native of Dublin, married to Mary for 44 years, he lived in Sandymount for the past 38 years. Vincent, a well-known public face in Sandymount, particularly for his unstinting dedication to all matters related to the Sandymount Tidy Towns for over 10 years, taking a keen interest in the seasonal planting of the centre bed in The Green, as well as flowering-up and subsequent maintenance of all the Village planters, together with undertaking some biodiversity projects along with the late Phil Keoghan. This was evidenced by all who attended his funeral service in the Star of the Sea Church and onwards to Glasnevin Crematorium.
Vincent had a huge capacity for attention to detail as was evidenced in his Tidy Towns duties, his involvement with the Strand Road proposed single cycleway, and forensically going through local planning applications. His views were forthright and his determination daunting. Irrespective of any tasks he undertook, all were tackled with the same approach.
Vincent had an unrivalled combination of skills and an unstinting work ethic. He spent his entire working life in ESB, working in many disciplines from Electrical Apprenticeship right up to becoming a Chartered Electrical Engineer. In his work, he demonstrated extraordinary vision, a strong sense of duty, an enviable appetite for hard work and a formidable determination to finish what he started.
Vincent was not a sportsman; the exception being a game of chess or scrabble. One needed time and patience when playing scrabble with him; taking his time to work out how best to maximise his score by going across and down in one move, and ultimately always winning! But Art, Photography and Cinema were his true hobbies. He was the reliable photographer for all family occasions, and they became complacent knowing that Vincent would always have good back-ups. His attempt at the Vermeer painting of “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” was among his many achievements, which was also seen at his funeral. Since his retirement he paid a weekly visit to the Cinema, mostly on Mondays for new releases, and had an abiding passion for science fiction. He sometimes came out from one film and went directly into another one. Vincent and Mary did extensive world travelling, spanning all five continents, with still a lot more to do.
Vincent had an enquiring mind. He sought his personal astrological birth chart, which made very interesting reading for him. He volunteered for research at the NEIL Memory Research Unit in Trinity College to learn about the Cognitive Function and Lifestyle in Older Adults, and found the Participant Feedback Report enjoyable, so he deemed it a worthwhile experience. In earlier years, he scored a high IQ (MENSA), which was reflected in how he solved problems, remembered things, and understood information. He also attended Toastmasters which improved his public speaking and leadership skills. He completed a course in The Silva Mind Control Method, which prompted people to unleash the mind’s full potential. Vincent was an intellectual powerhouse but wore his learning lightly. His friend Evan said that if he was ever on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” Vincent would be his ‘phone-a-friend.’
But behind all that Vincent was a simple man, had a wry sense of humour, nothing gave him greater pleasure than walking on the prom in Sandymount, hopping on the DART to Greystones or Malahide, using his well-earned travel pass, tending to his garden which has a many and varied selection of roses. He did all the DIY in the house and was the “go-to” man in the neighbourhood when called upon. He loved good plain cuisine along with his ice cream and chocolate. At the end of the day, he relaxed with the tv remote both viewing and recording. He had a penchant for the Horror Channel, and even slept afterwards! Vincent was very loyal, law abiding, utterly fair and unobtrusively generous.
Thanks to all who sent flowers, Mass cards, sympathy cards, letters, online condolences, text messages, all of which were graciously received and so appreciated. A personal thanks to my sisters, and brothers-in-law for their enormous support. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as an expression of my deepest gratitude. But a very special thanks is due to Fr Gerard O’Hanlon, SJ, for officiating at the Mass and Crematorium, to Maura and Mary who had a catalytic role in organising the Dublin side of the funeral, and to Vincent’s nephew Colum who played the keyboard. But the greatest loss belongs to his wife Mary, close friends, relations, neighbours, his sister Marie Therese and brothers Majella and Paud. Vincent’s ashes are interred in the Columbarium Wall at St Matthews, Irishtown. He will be remembered with great affection.
Vincent lived, laughed, loved, and left.
