Anne Catherine Ryan

Ithaca, NY

Anne Catherine Ryan, of Ithaca, NY, passed away unexpectedly on September 20, 2016, at the age of 74.  Anne, the daughter of the late Paul Ryan and Mary McCawley Ryan, was born in Pittston, PA March 31, 1942.  She attended West Side Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1960. Moving to Manhattan, she attended the Tobé-Coburn School for Fashion Careers and worked for Macy’s, Inc. as a fashion coordinator.

Anne married Russell Bland on May 1, 1965. The couple had two children, Ian and Jennifer. While living in Cooperstown and working full time for New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown, NY as a publications assistant and writer, she earned her BS Degree in history from the SUNY Oneonta.

Anne later moved to Ithaca, NY, taking a position in Development Communication with Cornell University. She left Cornell to become Director of Development at Williams College. After a few years she returned to Ithaca, where she married her current husband, Ralph B. Thompson, October 12, 1996. She worked in Development Communication at Ithaca College until her retirement in 2005. Thereafter, she continued with Ithaca as a freelance writer.

Anne was quite active in her communities. She served as President of the Cooperstown chapter of The League of Women Voters. She sat on the Board of Directors of the Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County, and was a founding member of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Anne is survived by her husband, Ralph B. Thompson, daughter Jennifer (Bland) Triolo of Midland Park, NJ, son Ian Bland of Langenthal, Switzerland, 4 grandchildren, sisters Paula Ryan and Mary (Ryan) Roff, brother Michael Ryan, two nieces, and many cousins. Jennifer and husband, Peter Triolo, have two children: Jocelyn and Victor.  Ian has two children: Carmen and Elias.

The family will hold a celebration of her life at Simeon’s on the Commons, 224 East State Street, Ithaca. Friends are invited to the “Anne Would Have Loved This” Party which begins at 12 noon on Saturday, September 24, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, please donate generously in Anne’s memory to:

Arthritis National Research Foundation, 5354 E. 2nd Street, Suite 201, Long Beach, CA 90803. www.curearthritis.org/donate/