A US military veteran who died earlier this month came out as gay in an obituary published after his death.
The obituary in the Albany Times-Union tells the story of Colonel Edward Thomas Ryan, a decorated army officer who served in the Vietnam war and was also a fireman in his hometown, Rensselaer, New York. He died on 1 June at the age 85.
In the obituary, Ryan added a note written in the first person just before his death: âI must tell you one more thing. I was Gay all my life: thru grade school, thru High School, thru College, thru Life.â
Ryan, or âUncle Edâ, as he was known to some, admitted to being âin a loving and caring relationship with Paul Cavagnaro of North Greenbushâ.
âHe was the love of my life. We had 25 great years together. Paul died in 1994 from a medical Procedure gone wrong ⦠Iâm sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay.â
Ryan said he did not come out sooner because he âwas afraid of being ostracized: by Family, Friends, and Co-Workersâ.
âSeeing how people like me were treated, I just could not do it,â he said.
The New York Times reported that Ryan showed the obituary to his niece Linda Sargent and her husband, Edward Sargent, a month before he died.
âLinda and I knew, you know what I mean? We never sat down and talked about it prior to that because my uncle was a private person. So we never broke that boundary. We knew, but we didnât say anything,â Edward Sargent told the newspaper.
The revelation was met with a wave of support, with people from all over the world commenting on Ryanâs obituary.
One person wrote: âMany condolences and may you and Paul find eternal happiness together. Thank you for your service. Iâm sorry you could never fully be yourself. Rest easy.â
âRest in pride and power, Col. Ryan,â another person wrote.
Ryan is survived âby many nieces and nephewsâ and will be buried in Kinderhook, New York, next to his partner, Cavagnaro.
âNow that my secret is known, Iâll forever Rest in Peace,â Ryan said.
