OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 135, 12 June 1929, Page 10

OBITUARY

BEY; FATHER B. J. RYAN

RECTOR OF ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE

Very general regret will be felt at the death of tho Bey. Father B. J. Byan, S.M., rector of St. Patrick's College, which took place this morning, after a short illness.

Father Ryan, who was in his 39th year, was appointed rector of the collego at the end of January last year. The late Father Byan was born in Wellington in 1890, and received the greater part of his primary education from the Sisters of Mercy at the old school in Dixon street. After spending two years with the Marist Brothers, he entered St. Patrick's College in 1900. From that year until 1908 he gained.distinction as a student, a de-

bater, a talented singer, and as a representative of the college at cricket. He.took a prominent part in most of the activities of school; life—a beginning of that practical love for Alma Mater which never ceased until his death. .'•"'. . :

Gaining his matriculation at an early age, he joined the Society of Mary, and entered St. Mary's Scholasticate, Meanee, Hawkes Bay, in .1909, where Jie made his religious profession '. in 1913. After a brilliant scholastic career in the seminary, Father Ryan was chosen to travel to Borne to gain his Doctorate of Divinity, but the outbreak of the Great War intervened to prevent this. Ordained to the priesthood in 1915, lie was appointed /to.the staff of his old college, where he laboured with conspicuous success until- his appointment to the rectorship. j Father Ryan took his B.A. degree in 1917, and in the following year gained his M.A. degree and first-class honours in history.. As a teacher he brought to his task all the devotion and untiring energy of one who has giyen his life to a great cause and combined with this zeal a method of imparting knowledge that was rewarded with great success. He was an eloquent preacher, and like his predecessor, Father Gilbert, took the keenest interest in the old boys of the college.. He was the convener of:the meeting this year at which the; St. Patrick's Old Boys' Association was formed, but declined the position of president on the ground that, in his opinion, the office should be held by a layman. At the time he was taken ill he was closely associated with the architect in the preparing of plans for the new St. Patrick's College at Silverstream. ■ ■ „■'■..;■.•..

Father Byan was in his usual health until Monday of last week, when he felt ill and had to seek medical' aid. His condition was such thai it was deemed advisable that he should be removed from the college.to'the General Hospital. His illness, endocarditis, ran its course, and at his own request he was taken back to the college yesterday, and passed peacefully away this morning, shortly after 8 o'clock.

The late Key. Father Byan was a son of Mr. John Byan, o- Boulcott avenue, an old resident of Wellington, and for many years past a member of the staff of the " Evening Post.'' Father Byan is survived by his-father and mother, and two brothers—Leonard (of the Education Department) and Edward; and three sisters —Mary, Bita, and 'Eileen. .. ". , . ■ •."■■■.

The funeral will take place on -Friday morning, preceded by Bequiem. Mass at St. Mary.;of the A,ngels' Church, Boulcott street.