Obituary of Attorney Daniel Brophy Ryan

Attorney Daniel Brophy Ryan, native son and lifelong resident of Middletown, CT, died Saturday, September 16, 2023. He was born on September 14, 1941, to Mary (Brophy) Ryan and Neil J. Ryan, and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1959. He received his B.A. degree from The College of Holy Cross (where he was a four-year enlistee in ROTC) in 1963, and immediately thereafter he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy. From 1963 to 1966 he served in various assignments, including Legal Officer aboard the USS Lake Champlain, Admiral’s Aide at the Pentagon and White House Aide during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Dan was a graduate of the United States Navy School of Legal Justice and the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1966, Dan served as a Naval Reserve Officer with the rank of Lieutenant Commander for 12 years.

Dan received his LL.B. degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1969 and was thereafter associated in the practice of law with the Hartford and Middletown law firm of Halloran, Sage, Phelan and Hagarty. In 1972, he started his own legal practice in a small office in the Middletown Saving Bank Building on Court Street. He remained in the continuous practice of law for 53 years until his retirement in 2022. Dan served as president of the Middlesex County Bar Association from 1996–1997. During his legal career, Dan served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Middletown for many years between 1995–2023 under Mayors Maria Madsen Holzberg, Domenique Thornton, Dan Drew, and Benjamin Florsheim.

Dan was also active in many local civic organizations, serving on the Boards of Directors of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, the Middlesex United Way, Community Action for Greater Middletown, Wesleyan University Faculty Club (former president), Rockfall Foundation, Independent Day School Board of Trustees, and the Middletown Garden Club. Dan was a member of the adjunct faculty at Middlesex Community College for 30 years.

Dan was a past Chair of the Diocese of Norwich Annual Bishop’s Appeal and in 1989, was honored by then Pope John Paul II with the papal designation of Knight of St. Gregory. Dan was a long-time parishioner of St. Pius X Church in Middletown.

Dan is survived by his wife of 50 years, Helen (Farrell) Ryan of Middletown, with whom he practiced law for many years at their 46 Washington Street office in Middletown, CT. Additionally, he is survived by his son, Daniel B. Ryan Jr., and daughter-in-law, Nicole Ryan, of West Bridgewater, MA; his daughter, Meghan Ryan Finegan, and son-in-law, Connor Finegan, of Westfield, NJ; and his daughter, Maeve Ryan, and son-in-law, Nick Zammuto, of Readsboro, VT. Dan is further survived by his grandchildren, Jake Ryan, Georgia Ryan, Bridget Finegan, and Mairin Finegan; and his sister, Mary Ann Ryan Keller, of Albuquerque, NM. He was predeceased by his sister, Sheila Ryan Daugherty.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 25, 2023, 10:00 am from The Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver Street, Middletown, CT with a Mass of Christian burial at 11: 00 am at St. Pius X Church, 310 Westfield St., Middletown, CT. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1141 Stanley St., New Britain, CT. Visitation will be Sunday, September 24, 2023, 2:00-6:00 pm at The Biega Funeral Home.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Avalon Health Care Center in Mystic, CT, for their compassionate care of Dan over the past 8 months. In lieu of flowers, donations in the deceased’s name may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.