Bob was born in Dorchester, MA on July 31, 1930 to George and Josephine (Quirk) Ryan. He grew up
with two brothers, George and Joseph, and his sister Marilyn. He talked about his wonderful memories
living close to loving aunts, uncles and his grandmother. He was a gifted athlete who played varsity
football, hockey and baseball at Dorchester High School. His talents earned him a football scholarship to
Holy Cross only to end when he received $25 to box in a professional match - an expensive mistake he
always said. Luckily he went on to play for Brandies Universities first football team.
Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict where he lost his ear and
nearly his life. He came back to Boston and continued his life of service by becoming a proud Boston
Police Officer where he rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant. During his thirty-nine year career, he
worked in district four, district 10, the drug control unit, homicide, the organized crime unit and Area A.
He attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Bob also managed to get mentioned in a
couple books - Brutal and A Cop’s Cop.
Bob met the love of his life. A beautiful young nurse named Ann McMullin, who worked in pediatrics at
Boston City Hospital. The two married and together raised four children, Diane, Bobby, Doreen and
Karen, in West Roxbury, later moving to Medfield. During this time they built a cottage on Newfound
Lake in New Hampshire where they spent every summer and made lifelong friends and memories.
An avid handball and racket ball player, Bob was a member of the Boston Athletic Club. He was also a
member of the Boston Police Emerald Society.
Bob spent his last few years with his daughter Diane and her dogs in Medfield. With all of his
accomplishments he still talked of his biggest ones turning Diane from junior football guru into the guru,
his Master Sergeant son Bob, who could fix anything, pinning a sergeants badge on Doreen and of
course his beloved “Blondie” (Karen).
He now resides in heaven with with wife Ann, his daughter Karen, his brother Gig, his son in law Roger,
and so many more great ones.