David Paul Ryan, born November 23, 1942, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Sam and Geneva Richeson Provenzano, died Saturday, December 4, 2010, in Beaumont, Texas.
David attended public schools in Port Arthur, and then the University of Texas, Lamar State College of Technology and the University of Houston, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Throughout high school, college and afterwards, David worked as an on-air radio personality at various stations in the Golden Triangle, San Angelo and Houston. After graduating, he was employed by Ling-Temco-Vought at NASA Visitor Services during the Apollo missions and the first manned moon landing. While working at NASA, he attended classes at the University of Houston Bates College of Law, earning a Juris Doctorate degree in 1972. Following that, David began practicing law in Houston. In 1979, he moved to Austin, Texas, to be a Hearings Officer with the Texas Education Agency, later becoming General Counsel. Leaving TEA for private practice in Austin, David became partner in a firm which built a statewide representation of excellence among the public school districts, which were its clients. When he retired in 1993 due to health reasons, the firm’s letterhead had grown to fifteen attorneys. David’s reputation in his profession was sterling, and his integrity and skill in the practice of law were admired by his colleagues and clients.
David pursued a lifelong quest for knowledge. He enjoyed reading and writing poetry, anything pertaining to World War II, and working crossword puzzles just to increase his vocabulary. David was naturally artistic, and his roles in many collegiate theatre productions at Lamar were among his treasured memories. He loved classic movies and old westerns. Music, too, was always a pleasure for him, usually Stan Kenton’s jazz. Being at the beach renewed him, and many wonderful memories were made with family and friends on Bolivar Peninsula. His three grandchildren, Caden, Marin and Hallie, were most special of all to “Paw”. Time with them was precious to David; especially a recent month spent visiting them in Brisbane, Australia.
David is survived by his wife, Suzanne Carlisle Ryan; his daughter, Jennifer Ryan Heitzmann and her husband Cory of Brisbane, Australia; his son, Cullen David Ryan of Austin; his mother, Geneva Richeson Provenzano of Pleasantville, Tennessee; his sister, Jean Provenzano Ponder and her husband Richard Ponder of Pleasantville, Tennessee; and his aunt, Marie Richeson Hiscock of The Woodlands. His precious grandchildren who survive him are Caden, Marin and Hallie Heitzmann of Brisbane, Austrailia. He is also survived by nephews, Paul Ponder of Pleasantville, Tennessee and Mark Ponder of Knoxville, Tennessee; niece, Ann Ponder Giltner of Hohenwald, Tennessee; and numerous cousins who reside in Texas.
His father, Sam Provenzano, preceded him in death in 1993.
A memorial service in celebration of David’s life will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 30, 2010, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.
The family would like for everyone to join them for a reception following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
