Peter Franklin of Greenwich CT and Nantucket Mass. died May 5, 2018 at age 82 after a long illness. He was born on March 27, 1936, the third child of Peter Leon and Mary Martha Ryan.
Peter is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Morna C. Ryan, daughter Andrea Ryan of Palm Desert, Calif and sons Clark Ryan of Denver, Colo. and Peter J Ryan of Greenwich. He is also survived by his brother J. Richard Ryan of Palm Desert, Calif and was predeceased by his sister, Martha Ann Byrnes, of New Canaan.
Peter was a proud graduate of All Hallows High School and Georgetown University. After serving in the U.S. Army, Peter spent the next 40 years in Broadcast TV starting out in production at WTOP in Washington, D.C. Joining Harrington Righter and Parsons, a national television representative firm in 1963 he served in various managerial roles becoming President and COO in 1994 until his retirement at the end of 1999. He was President of the Broadcast Advertising Club in Chicago and in New York he was on the board of the International Radio and Television Society. A lifelong golfer, pilot and musician, Peter’s life has been a continuous journey of serving others in industry, community and cultural activities. An active member of St. Mary’s R.C Church in Greenwich, he was a lector, Eucharist minister and one-time member of the Parish Council. A founding board member of PALS (Patient Airlift Services), Peter flew his beloved Piper Malibu Mirage hundreds of hours transporting patients to and from medical facilities on the East Coast. On the ground he ferried persons who could no longer drive to and from their appointments. He was the pianist for the Melody Men, a singing group from the Greenwich Retired Men’s Association and Chair of the Airport Advisory Board for the town. He was a long-time enthusiastic member of Sankaty Golf Club in Nantucket.
Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home, 31 Arch St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, May 9 at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church on Greenwich Avenue. Interment will be at Putnam Cemetery on Parsonage Road in Greenwich. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to PALS in Peter’s name.
