A life of service

How Kevin Ryan keeps his sense of humor

Kevin Ryan talks about his life matter-of-factly: “Well, I started life as a child.” This mischievous energy may well dictate the tone of your conversation. You’ll then discover that he is a board-certified oncologist, hematologist and internist with multiple masters’ degrees, a retired United States Air Force colonel, musician, author and most importantly to him, an engaged participant in the community.
    As a university student, after being drafted but narrowly avoiding Vietnam due to orthopedic injuries, Ryan pursued medical school while on active duty, becoming a clinician, researcher and teacher. His path on “the physician executive route” took him into roles as both medical director and executive director of the Western Regional Joint Service Lead Agency. No matter where he was stationed or what position he held, teaching and leadership were—and are—at the core of his sense of obligation to both his work and his community.
    With retirement, he also has more time for creative projects—as he puts it, “I try to get time to play every day.” A prolific writer, he is completing what he calls his swan song, a book entitled When Tumor is the Rumor and Cancer is the Answer; the expected publication date is the end of 2008. “It’s a look at cancer from the mind, heart and soul of a medical oncologist, and how we talk about it,” he explains. As a musician, he composes for and plays the piano, 12-string guitar and jazz organ. He also writes song lyrics, often with his wife Pamela (who he frequently calls “Madame P, Empress of the Universe and Goddess of All That is Holy”).
    One of Ryan’s most recent undertakings was creating the theme song contest for the Arty Awards, which honors productions and individuals in the regional performing arts. “Solano is rich in music and the performing arts and the 23-year-old Arty Awards gala ... needs a tune,” he implored in a May column for The Daily Republic. Ryan created a website, worked tirelessly to bring in sponsors and assembled the panel of volunteer judges. For his work, he received a special Arty Angel award at the show on Sept. 9. At the show, Bill James, publisher of The Daily Republic, said, “You’d think by all he’s accomplished, he’d be a wizened old man, but Kevin is one of those people who is not only big-hearted but who gets things done at the speed of light.”
    Ryan’s sly streak emerged at the show when he introduced and held a conversation with, via “satellite”, his “long-lost, much rumored” twin brother Tony Deaf, Ryan’s musical alter ego. “Some people fell for it,” he says, and naturally, “I didn’t set them straight.”
The projects never stop. He is currently helping Solano Kids Day Of Fishing become an incorporated nonprofit. He is also the strategic planner, consultant and facilitator for a new playwright contest organized by Solano Repertory Company. 
    “You’ve got to be involved, be part of the process,” he says. “No worshipping at that perpendicular pronoun: ‘I’. The world is not fair, but be the best you can be and have joy doing it. That’s the beauty of the journey.”
    Ryan donates all proceeds from his writing and music gigs toward developing a Boys and Girls Club chapter in Fairfield. For samples of his writings, visit tonydeaf.org.

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