ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Brother Leo V. Ryan of the Clerics of St. Viator died on June 22 at the Moorings of Arlington Heights Rehabilitation Center. He was 89 years old.
Brother Ryan was born on April 6, 1927 in Waukon, Iowa, the son of John and Mary (O’Brien) Ryan. He was an Army veteran and held a bachelor’s in business administration from Marquette University, an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University School of Commerce and Finance.
Brother Ryan had numerous assignments and received honorary degrees, awards, and medals from universities and organizations in the United States and also in Europe. He was a prolific author, publishing numerous books, articles and lectures in the area of business and business ethics, with a concentration on the economy of Poland.
Brother Ryan pronounced his first vows as a member of the Clerics of St. Viator on March 2, 1950 and perpetual vows on Feb. 2, 1955.
In the Springfield diocese, Brother Ryan was a teacher and business manager at Cathedral Boys High School in Springfield from 1950-1951. From there he went on two spend two years at Spalding Institute in Peoria. After serving in several other places in other states, in July 1965 he was named chairman of the Department of Management for the College of Business Administration at Loyola University, Chicago.
He spent the year 1966 as deputy director and administrative officer for the United States Peace Corps in Nigeria-Lagos, Nigeria. In 1967 he served his community as a member of the General Council in Rome and then as director of education for the Province of Chicago. In 1972 he was named as the first president of St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights.
He was a dean at the University of Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980 and then was a dean at DePaul University in Chicago from 1980 to 1988. From 1991 to 2001 he was a lecturer in Finland and in Poland. He moved into the retirement residence at the Viatorian Province Center in 1999 and served his community as chair of the Querbes Commission for the Province of Chicago from 2001 to 2009.
Brother Ryan was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Ryan and one nephew, Daniel Hart.
He is survived by his sister Elizabeth E. Hart of Waukon, Iowa, a nephew, two nieces, a great-niece and a great-nephew.
Brother Ryan requested that his body be donated to science. A memorial Mass was held on July 2 at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights.