Leaving a Legacy to Feed the Hungry
Second Harvest Food Bank was surprised and honored last year to receive a generous bequest from William J. Ryan Jr.
Mr. Ryan was born in 1921 in New Orleans and lived to the age of 94 years old. He attended Jesuit High School and Loyola University. He served in World War II in the United States Coast Guard aboard the USCGC Redbud. He was quite proud of his service to his country and was buried with full military honors.
After the war, he attended Julliard where he trained as an opera singer. His career as a baritone singer was highlighted by performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and venues throughout the United States and around the world. After 50 years of living in New York and Portland, Oregon, he returned to New Orleans for the last 20 years of his life.
Mr. Ryan included Second Harvest in his will because he valued the mission of the food bank since its founding by Archbishop Hannan and Bishop Morin in 1982. His nieces told us, "May this remembrance be helpful to you in your work as you minister to those in need. Please remember Bill Ryan in your prayers."
Thanks to Mr. Ryan's generous bequest, Second Harvest is able to feed thousands of hungry children, families and seniors in our community.
If you would like to make a gift to Second Harvest in your will or other estate plan, like Mr. Ryan did, please contact Heather Sweeney at 504-729-2839 or hsweeney@no-hunger.org.