Martin Edward Ryan
WELLS – On Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, Martin Edward Ryan of Wells, Maine, loving husband, father, educator, coach, and mentor passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at the age of 73.
Marty was born on May 3, 1947, in Gardner, Massachusetts. He is the son of Herbert Wilton Ryan and was blessed to have two mothers; Mildred Seaver Ryan who brought him into the world and Leona McGowan Ryan who raised him from the age of 11.
He played football at American International College and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1969. He later pursued graduate studies at Clark University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Southern Maine and earned the distinction of being a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. Marty was married to his high school sweetheart, Judy (Easterbrooks) Ryan of Wells, for 51 years and was a loving father to daughter Amy of Nashville, Tenn., and son Tim of Brunswick.
Marty began his career as an educator at Narragansett Regional High School (Massachusetts) where he taught business courses while rising to the level of head coach of the baseball, basketball and football teams.
In 1979, he and his family moved to Wells, where he began a 29 year career as a teacher, coach and administrator prior to his retirement in 2009. Marty was the Athletic Director and the Director of Student Activities at Wells High School for 21 years before becoming the Director of Athletics for grades six through 12 in the Kennebunk school system in 2001. Marty deeply valued the role athletics can play in bringing a community together and treasured watching students develop both academically and athletically during his time as an educator and administrator.
Marty’s devotion to his profession extended beyond his local community as he was an active member and leader of athletic administrator organizations both in Maine and nationally. From 2000 to 2001 he served as President of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and served as the Executive Director of the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) for over 20 years. Marty loved spending time with his fellow athletic administrators and was proud and grateful to have the annual MIAAA Award of Excellence named in his honor.
Marty was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, the Wells High School Hall of Fame in 2005, the Narragansett Regional Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Maine Principals’ Association Hall of Excellence in 2014. He was also recognized for his outstanding leadership several times, including MIAAA Athletic Director of the Year (1987), NIAAA State Award of Merit (1994), National Federation of High Schools Citation (1995), the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award (1997) and the NIAAA Athletic Director of the Year (2005). Of Marty’s numerous accomplishments and recognitions he was most proud to have been inducted into the NIAAA National Hall of Fame in 2011 while surrounded by his peers and family.
Marty was an avid fly-fisherman who treasured his annual trips to Pierce Pond and Grand Lake Stream in Maine. His passion for fly fishing took him across the country and to Canada in pursuit of a perfect cast and one more fish on the line. During his retirement he was a volunteer at Sanford Golf Club, where he also took pride in the long awaited improvement to his golf game, which included two holes-in-one during his career. He also enjoyed volunteering at the food pantry at St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Wells. Marty loved attending Maine athletic administrator conferences at the Samoset Resort (ME) and national conferences and committee meetings across the country with his wife Judy. He could often be found at high school sporting events, usually with one eye on the action and one eye on event operations. Most of all, Marty loved his family and friends, taking care of his home of 42 years and helping others whenever possible.
Marty is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy (Easterbrooks), his daughter, Amy and her husband Chris Sunday, and son, Tim and his wife Jennie Ryan.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Betty Kozlowski and brothers Herb and Ralph Ryan. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and by hundreds of students, teachers, coaches and administrators that he strived to positively impact during his life.
A celebration of Marty’s life will be held in Wells, on Friday, June 25, 2021, at 11 a.m., at Holy Spirit Parish, St. Mary’s Church.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Marty’s Book of Memories Page at http://www.bibberfuneral.com
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells, Maine 04090. http://www.bibbermemorial.com.
The family suggests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Marty’s name to a local charity of their choice or one of three organizations that support Marty’s life passions;
St. Mary’s Ecumenical Food Pantry
236 Eldridge Road
Wells ME 04090,
the Maine Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund (www.mshof.com/
donations/)
or the Wells High School Scholarship Fund
c/o Principal Sheehy
200 Sanford Road
Wells, ME 04090
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