April 20, 1938- August 8, 2010
David Roger Ryan was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Belmont, NY where he attended Alfred State College. Serving in the US Air Force, he was stationed in Florida and Alaska, where he assisted with special services helping with the Bob Hope Christmas show, meeting Bob Hope, Steve McQueen, Jayne Mansfield, Francis Langford and others.
In his early years, Dave worked at various retail positions in New Jersey and New York where he met and maintained lifelong friendships. After leaving the service he moved to Hollywood, California, where he realized his enjoyment of working with people as a waiter and bartender. He later moved to San Francisco where he also worked various jobs, including Enrico Banducci's on Broadway.
In 1982 he moved to Santa Cruz to work in a retirement hotel, until it was destroyed in the 1989 earthquake.
Moving back to the Bay Area in 1990, Dave opened a small collectibles shop in Benicia, but later took a position at the former Americana Suites hotel in San Francisco as an assistant manager. When the hotel converted to residential housing for people with AIDS, under the Shanti Project and then Catholic Charities, he maintained positions as senior residential counselor. In 1996 he moved to live and work at the Granada retirement community on Sutter Street. Named as employee of the month numerous times, he was much loved and appreciated and will be missed by the residents and staff.
Dave was a familiar and popular face on Polk Street also working at several bars. He truly enjoyed his several trips to Thailand with friends.
His true passion was thrift shops and garage sales. Besides his generosity of sharing his story telling, he truly enjoyed gifting his treasures and finds. Each man's life touches so many other lives and David touched so many.
In honor and remembrance, please make a thrift shop donation, whether it's a tie, a book, a Christmas ornament or a box of treasures.
For further information please contact [email protected]