W. Bradley Ryan (1927-2011)

W. Bradley "Brad" Ryan, a USCF member from Concord, Massachusetts, formerly of Belmont, Mass., died on November 9, 2011 in Concord. He was 84. He was born on September 16, 1927 in Arlington, Mass., the son of George S. and Mary Bradley (Kavanaugh) Bradley. He grew up in Belmont, attending local schools and graduated from Belmont High School. He had lived in Concord since 1984. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, being stationed in Korea in 1946. After his military service, he received a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University and a law degree (juris doctor) from the Boston College Law School in 1953. He became a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association in the same year. For several years, Mr. Ryan practiced law with his father in their law firm, Ryan and Ryan, in Boston. He continued with the firm after his father's death in 1961. In 1970, he began his practice as an attorney with the law firm of Rubin and Rudman. He eventually became a partner in the firm, where he specialized in litigation law for more than 42 years. He was a member of the American Arbitration Association. After moving to Concord, he served as a lector at the former Our Lady Help of Christians Church in West Concord and later at Holy Family Church in Concord.

Mr. Ryan was the quintessential chess club player, being a member for many decades at the Billerica (Mass.) Chess Club, where he served many terms as president, was its chief tournament director and one of the club's most active players. In the past 20 years, he had tied for first place in the club championship in 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He finished in a tie for the runner-up position in 1997. He also competed in two other clubs: the former Nashoba Chess Club in Westford, Mass., and the Metrowest Chess Club in Natick, Mass. For many years, he participated in the former Northeast Chess League before that popular multi-team league was discontinued in the early 1990s. Since August 1991, he had played in more than 260 tournaments - serving as chief TD for 192 of them. He was a solid Class A first-category player and reached an all-time high rating in the past 25 years of 2054 in July 1992. He was also a longtime member and supporter of the Massachusetts Chess Association (MACA).

Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife, Carol Ann (Burke) Sheehan Ryan; a son, Bradley S. Ryan of Billerica; a daugher, Kathryn Howard of Newton, Mass; three stepsons, John F. Sheehan of Cambridge, Mass., Brendan B. Sheehan of Boston and Andrew H. Sheehan of Marshfield, Mass.; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his former wife, Kathryn Ryan. He was predeceased by a son, Thomas G. Ryan, and a brother, George S. Ryan Jr.

The funeral was held Nov. 14, 2011 from the Dee Funeral Home in Concord. Interment with military honors was held at the family burial plot in Belmont Cemetery.

Obituary submitted by
George Mirijanian, Massachusetts Chess Association

W. Bradley Ryan may you rest in peace