Michael Charles Ryan was born in Washington, DC on March 20, 1960 to Michael Otto Ryan and Marie Therese Ryan. After his father passed in 1967, Michael and his family moved to Carrolltown, PA. He attended Bishop Carroll High School, where he was a member of the golf club and a lead troublemaker of the Swarm, his group of lifelong friends.

He chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces. He attended the United States Air Force Academy as a member of the class of 1982, where he met his wife, Gloria.

Their love affair took them all across Europe, first to RAF Bentwaters and Lakenheath. During this tour of duty, Michael finally took to the skies, flying the A-10 Warthog with the 509th TFS, where he earned the call sign Ralph Rembrant.

Gloria and Michael were married in Lavenham, UK in 1986 in a beautiful ceremony with a lavish reception at the Swan Hotel, where they continued to celebrate their anniversaries throughout the years.

When assigned back stateside, he and Gloria started their family, having two children, Carissa and Michael. This stint took them through Lackland Air Force Base and Washington D.C., where he worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Library of Congress. In 1997, the entire family returned to Europe, this time to Oberammergau, Germany; Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium, and Stuttgart, Germany. Mike often took groups to Moscow, Russia, engaging with his international counterparts and hosting Ukrainian officials as they began their journey to join NATO.

An avid golfer, he also took advantage to play on some of the most respected courses in Europe. He also acted as the unofficial photographer at his children’s school, Brussels American School, attending all of their sporting meets and documenting their various victories.

After 25 years in the armed services, Mike retired as a Colonel in the United States Air Force, but remained a civil servant serving his country, joining the Department of Defense as a Senior Executive. Eventually, actually retiring to his hometown of Carrolltown, PA, he dove into becoming a member of the community. Unable to stay completely grounded, he took to the seas, speaking on cruise ships that traveled around the world.

He was widely renowned in Europe and Washington as one of the great Transatlanticists, and his roles as a board member at Friends of Europe and in policy circles after his active government career continued to promote strong and lasting bonds between the United States, Canada, and Europe. During his decades of service, Mike was known as a caring leader who took the time to learn how to best lead each person, while also having the unique ability to help guide the nation’s most senior leaders to make educated decisions that served America’s values and interests.

Words do not do his life justice, but you can read his own at https://www.annual-wee-epistle.com

He is survived and missed by his Wife Gloria Ryan, Daughter Carissa and her Husband Jeff Ryan-Matthews, Son Mike D. Ryan, Sister Peggy and her Husband Tom Fisher, Sister Judy Nathan, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.

I’m sure he sends us LOSAG (Lots of Slop and Gush) and asks that you don’t cry for him, but rather celebrate his life with good beer, good wine, good food, good friends and lots of Irish Whiskey.

Friends and family will be received from 2:00 - 4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Stevens Funeral Home, 146 North Main Street, Carrolltown, PA. The family will be holding an ‘Irish Wake’ in accordance with his last wishes.

Additional visitation will be held at St. Benedict Catholic Church in the Boniface Wimmer Room 100 South Main Street, Carrolltown, Pa 15722 on Friday, October 9, 2026 from 10:00 until the 11:00 am funeral Mass at the church, Father Michael Gabler, O.S.B., celebrant. Full military rites will be presented by the American Legion Post 506.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Benedict Catholic School https://www.benedictpride.org/

Eternal rest grant onto him, o lord, let your perpetual light shine upon him.

Condolences can be sent directly to his daughter at ryan.carissam@gmail.com, who is compiling an in memoriam album. Please feel free to send pictures, memories, or anything else you feel should be included.