Obituary

Frank Edward Ryan, 89, of Mission Viejo, CA, passed away June 2, 2014, at home surrounded by his children. Frank was born June 11, 1924 in Brackenridge, PA, to the late Theodora and Frank Ryzinski.

Frank was a tall man with sparkling yet soft blue eyes. He had a smile and a handshake for everyone. A sweet and gentle man he was never in a bad mood. Frank saw the good in everyone no matter the circumstances. Above all else, Frank was a devoted husband and father. To his children he gave the greatest gift of all, an ongoing example of a life well lived.

Frank and his wife George Ann were very much in love for more than 60 years. So deep and encompassing was their love that they could not bear to be apart for very long. And so when George Ann passed away, Frank joined her in heaven 24 days later.

Frank graduated from Har-Brack High School in 1942, where he was a talented athlete. He loved football and played every chance he could, dreaming of becoming a coach one day. Frank recalled being surrounded by some of the finest football players in Western Pennsylvania. He maintained a life long love of sports remaining a loyal fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates.

As a young boy Frank loved black jellybeans and so was nicknamed “Beano,” a name that stayed with him all of his life.

Frank joined the Navy shortly after high school and proudly served his country in World War II and the Korean Conflict.

In 1963 Frank answered a newspaper ad seeking a rental agent for a new residential building in Pittsburgh, PA, Gateway Towers. He was hired by Tishman Real Estate and Construction Company, and so began a successful career in commercial property management. He soon became the general manager at Gateway Towers, and later a vice president for Tishman.

In 1972 Frank transferred to California where he managed several commercial buildings in Los Angeles. He was later chosen to oversee development of a multi-use shopping center and entertainment venue called the “City” in Orange County, California, which is today known as the “The Block at Orange”.

Frank was confident in his abilities as a real estate professional. More importantly he engendered loyalty and respect from his staff, often encouraging them to “stick with me”. When he retired Frank was honored with a plaque upon which his staff proclaimed that they had indeed “stuck with him”.

Raised during the Depression Frank would take any job he could to help out his family. He learned the value of hard work and never forgot his humble beginnings. Throughout his career he remained guided by a simple principal learned as a young boy, to be “firm but fair”. He showed the same respect for hourly paid workers as he did for company executives, and for that he was loved by all.

Frank is survived by his four children, Robert Ryan, of Mission Viejo, CA, Kathy (Larry) Hughes, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Susan (Terry Johnson) Ryan, of San Diego, CA, and Paula Jean (Frank) Andersen, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; six grandchildren, David Ryan, of New York, NY, Lori (Dan) Freed, of Royersford, PA, Scott (Kristina) Hughes, of Farmington Hills, MI, Ryan Hughes, of Honolulu, HI, Matthew Andersen and Morgan Andersen, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; and four great grandchildren, Ryan, Ethan, and Luke Freed, and Colin Hughes. He is also survived by his sisters Eleanor (John) McConville of Natrona Heights, PA, and Phyllis (Robert) Pinchok, of Natrona Heights, PA. Frank was preceded in death by sisters Stella Giernacky, Sophia Rice, Mary Dzugan, Lottie Obertance, and Genevieve DeBlasio, and brothers Stanley Ryzinski and Theodore Ryzinski.

Rest well o mighty one, your time has come due, but know that we will always stick with you.