Alice M. Ryan - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Alice M. Ryan

October 15, 1929 - October 11, 2018


Alice M. Ryan, age 88, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2018 at her home in Millcroft Senior Living.

Alice was a treasured member of St. Andrews’ school faculty which she joined in 1975 and subsequently became their first female administrator. A graduate of Wellesley College with masters’ degrees from Middlebury College/Sorbonne and the University of Delaware, Alice honored her father’s wishes by devoting her life to education.

Alice’s many talents helped serve the good of the Middletown community where she was instrumental in the founding of the Cooperative Kindergarten was well as the former Broadmeadow School. She also served as the Trustee of Appoquinimink Public Library, even contributing to its interior design.

Prior to Alice joining the faculty as St. Andrews, she was a substitute teacher there, played the organ in Chapel and served as assistant registrar. She was appointed a teacher of French and registrar in 1975, and in 1979 she became director of studies until 1987.

St. Andrews’ class of 1987 honored Alice by dedicating their yearbook to her. During her career at the school, Alice taught French, Latin, English and even math in addition to her many administrative duties and extracurricular activities.

Alice loved to travel and entertain friends at her home and she was a voracious reader. She was active in AAUW (American Association of University Women) and was a long-time active member of St. Thomas’ Church in Newark. The movie “Dead Poets Society” was filmed at St. Andrews School and Alice was cast as the headmaster’s secretary.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 276 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19711, where a memorial service will begin at 11 am. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Alice’s memory to St. Thomas Episcopal Church at the address listed above.

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11 Condolences for Alice M. Ryan

  • My thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of Alice Ryan. She was my next door neighbor on the St. Andrew’s campus when I was growing up there. I cherish the memory of her warm and gracious personality.
    Blessings!
    Ted Thornton, SAS ’66

  • I remember trying to find stuff in the archives when I was on the SAS Alumni Corporation Board. She cheerfully set off with the task, while both of us knew it was likely a forlorn hope. I think we were searching for some disciplinary committee records which I remembered held some great Cameronian prose within their verdicts eg. “Promiscuous Osculation” I don’t think we ever found it. My condolences to the Ryan family and friends. I and others will miss her pleasant natured influence! chuckles SAS `71

  • This is a sad loss to the SAS community. Mrs. Ryan was a benevolent influence on my St. Andrew’s years in so many ways.
    Chris Kennedy ’75

  • Mrs Ryan was a timeless influence on SAS and her students. Quite and reserved, she was always willing to assist any student. I was greatfull for her guidance while at SAS. Sherry Gamble ‘87

  • To Mrs. Ryan’s family:
    Chesa indicates that Mrs. Ryan taught many of us table manners. I have to laugh as my memories of that contribution she made to my life become vivid! The photo above is exactly the way I remember her, too. Thank you, Mrs. Ryan, for teaching me something super important! I am thinking of your family in their time of grief.

    –Treava ’83

  • My deepest sympathy goes out to Alice’s family and friends. I still remember how helpful Alice was in advising me during my senior year on where I should apply for college.
    Axel Amaya ’78

  • I can remember her French classes vividly many years later. It was clear she loved her job and the student body.

  • Inside that formal personality was an understanding and benevolent heart, as I learned during Latin 1. William Whitmoyer SAS ‘86

  • Little did I know how special a person she was and how much I could have learned if I had not been blind to her many talents and saintly nature and been more perceptive during my tenure at SAS. May she rest in peace and take her place among the saints!

  • I was deeply saddened to learn of Mrs. Ryan’s death. She was a true lady and an excellent teacher of French. I will always remember my son (Skip Middleton – SAS ’83) taking us to Montreal for the day (when he lived in Burlington, VT) and how proficient he was in French! He amazed both my husband and myself. I so much wanted to see Mrs. Ryan again to tell her! Had I known she was living at Millcroft, I would have visited her and told her then! THANKS, Mrs. Ryan!

  • My condolences to Alice Ryan’s family and friends who knew her the best. I was saddened to learn of her passing but like so many St. Andrew’s alumni and faculty, I have fond memories of Alice and her many contributions to the SAS community as a faculty member and administrator and mother to her son and my friend Jim who I grew up with. I recall her assistance in proofreading my college essay during my senior year. Without her gentle encouragement to put more of myself into it (as well as keen focus on spelling correctly!) the responses from my desired colleges may have been different. Thank you Alice, you will be remembered.
    Russell Boyle ’74