Col. Edward Thomas Ryan Comes Out in Powerful Obituary
Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, 85, a decorated Army veteran, revealed a lifelong secret in his obituary after his death: he was gay. “I was Gay all my life… Now that my secret is known, I’ll forever Rest in Peace,” he wrote. Fearing rejection from family and society, Ryan had kept his identity hidden for decades.
Despite this, he shared a 25-year loving relationship with Paul Cavagnaro, the “love of his life,” who passed away in 1994. His family quietly knew about the relationship, though Ryan never openly spoke about it. He chose to donate his body to science and will be buried next to Cavagnaro.
His story is a powerful reminder of why Pride Month matters. Please share in his honor.
