Veteran, 85, Comes Out In His Heartbreaking Obituary

ABC News reports:

A military veteran who went on to serve as a firefighter and owned a local radio station revealed in his obituary that he was gay, a secret he said he held his entire life. Col. Edward Thomas Ryan died at age 85 on June 1, the first day of Pride Month, his niece Linda Sargent told “Good Morning America.”

After listing his career accolades and his survivors, Ryan’s obituary, published June 8 in the Albany Times-Union, included a message that he wrote prior to his death. Sargent said her uncle, whom she called Uncle Ed and whom she cared for in his final years, spoke with her about the message he wanted to share after his passing.

“I said, ‘Uncle Ed, if that’s what you want to tell the world, tell the world that you’re gay. Don’t be ashamed of it,'” Sargent recalled. “He was a great man, and I’m just so sorry that he had to hide who he was.”

USA Today reports:

Throughout his career, Ryan received honors including the National Defense Service Medal, the Defense of Liberty Medal “For participation to the State following the attack on America, on 11 September 2001,” the Conspicuous Service Medal and Commanders Citation for “Service Above and Beyond the Call” from the division of Military and Naval affairs.

He was also a retired firefighter and chairman of the Vietnam Veterans/Agent Orange Committee for the American Legion, among other major community contributions such as his co-ownership of local radio station WHRL-FM of Albany, New York.

A brother and uncle, Ryan’s obituary features a long list of relatives, accomplishments, sacrifices and contributions to his country and local community. It also, perhaps most importantly, features a closing statement on love, truth and acceptance Ryan did not get to realize fully in his lifetime.

From the close of his self-penned obituary:

I must tell you one more thing. I was Gay all my life: thru grade school, thru High School, thru College, thru Life. I was in a loving and caring relationship with Paul Cavagnaro of North Greenbush. He was the love of my life. We had 25 great years together. Paul died in 1994 from a medical Procedure gone wrong. I’ll be buried next to Paul.

I’m sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay. I was afraid of being ostracized: by Family, Friends, and Co-Workers. Seeing how people like me were treated, I just could not do it. Now that my secret is known, I’ll forever Rest in Peace.

#TheLastThing before we go: Resting in peace.

A decorated Army veteran comes out as gay in his obituary pic.twitter.com/mvGo8M3F5Q

— 11th Hour (@11thHour) June 14, 2024

A military veteran who went on to serve as a firefighter revealed in his obituary that he was gay, a secret he said he held his entire life.

Col. Edward Thomas Ryan died at age 85 on June 1, the first day of Pride Month.

“I’m sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay.… pic.twitter.com/jwhHi7LijB

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 14, 2024

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