Dennis “Denny” John Ryan

Dennis “Denny” John Ryan of Alpharetta, GA passed away peacefully at his home on November 10, 2017, after a long illness.  Denny was born July 28, 1946, in St. Paul, MN to the late Ben and Ann Ryan.

Denny proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.  He was a lifelong learner, first at the University of Minnesota and, after retiring, at Florida Atlantic University.  Denny had a passion for home improvement and followed his dreams, beginning with Emmer Brothers and Menard’s in MN.  He joined a small start-up company called Home Depot where he spent 17 years, first as a Building Material Merchant, then as Vice President, opening the Northeast Division, and finally as Senior Vice President of Merchandising.  Denny loved his work but was most proud of the partnerships he formed worldwide.

Throughout his life, Denny had a reputation for attention to detail that was above reproach.  In addition to his executive career and management skills, he was also a true wood craftsman, a painter, an artist; he was known for his compulsiveness in whatever project he was working on at the time.

He was fiercely loyal to friends, many of whom he had known since high school and who have remained in contact with him over the years.  Above all, Denny was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. 

Denny is survived by his loving wife, Betty, along with his children, Tim (Bonnie) Ryan of Marietta, GA, and Keely (Michael) Powers of Cumming, GA; Betty’s children, Shawn (Jennifer) Miller and daughter, Shannon (Katie) Miller. He was blessed with nine grandchildren whom he loved dearly and is also survived by his sisters and brother, Sharon (Gary) Tonn, Nancy (Dick) Jones, Mike (Colleen) Ryan and Patti (Jim) Boyd.  Denny was a devoted uncle to his many nieces and nephews.  His dog, Hattie, was his constant companion.

After retirement, he poured himself into spending time with his family AND FRIENDS. He and Betty enjoyed their retirement, traveling to; Australia, Greece, Paris and extensively in the Bahamas and were known to spontaneously invite friends and family to join them on their travels.  Sharing their experiences with loved ones was just one of the joys they found in retirement.  They spent the first ten years of their retirement at their home in Manalapan, FL before moving back to Atlanta to be with friends and family. During retirement, Denny continually coached/mentored countless people, helping them strive and seek successfulness in their own lives.

Denny was a loyal fan of the Atlanta Falcons, a supporter of Donald Trump an active member of the NRA. golfer, yachtsman, snow skier, and an Excel spreadsheet expert! He was always ready to bend an ear with a hearty discussion on just about any subject. 

We were all enriched by having Denny in our lives and he will be greatly missed -- he was a brilliant, compassionate and witty man. He left this world a better place and he did so in a manner that was very much notable and unforgettable.

Mr. Ryan’s life will be celebrated in a Memorial Visitation and Funeral at Birmingham United Methodist Church in Milton, GA www.birminghamumc.org at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 18th, 2017. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations can be to the City of Hope www.cityofhope.org or the charity of your choice.

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com