James Dennis Ryan

James Dennis Ryan, known as Dennis, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1934 to Jack and Doris. He attended Cascia Hall in Tulsa and received a degree in Philosophy from the University Of Notre Dame. While serving in the military, he met and married Loretta Cecilia "TW" daughter of Colonel Salvador Taranto. Dennis received a law degree from OU and practiced Law in OKC. Dennis was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and served as part of the original building committee for the Church. Dennis was a natural athlete. Besides winning a State High Dive championship in 1949, Dennis was good enough at Golf to supplement his income in college. According to Dennis, his greatest athletic accomplishment wasn't shooting his age at 68, the three hole-in-ones he had accumulated or winning numerous amateur tournaments; but rather, it was when his Army CO gave him time-off to play a round the day after the 1958 US Open that Tommy Bolt won with a +3. Dennis played his best round ever, shooting even par that day with a group of Southern Hills regulars. His most notorious feat was when he skipped school to play with the Southern Hills Pro; Dennis shot even par after bogeying the first three holes. The score was so impressive that the Tulsa World ran an article, which the Head Master at Cascia Hall read to Dennis just before he suspended him for cutting class. He was preceded in death by daughter, Kerry Kathleen, parents, Francis James and Doris Ryan, and sister, Mary Jacquelyn Junk. He is survived by sister, Margaret (Sweet Pea) and husband Denny Darnell of Tulsa; wife, Loretta; children, Mike and wife Alexandra of Ft. Lauderdale, FL., Kelley and husband Duane Rusten of Dallas, Tim and Dan of OKC; grandchildren, Chelsea, Chris, Sarah, Jack, Drew and Alec. An evening prayer service will be Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at Smith & Kernke North May Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 10th at 9 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.