Michael Ryan ’63 was a classic ‘day student’ at Canisius in the early 1960s. He spent most of his time in class and in the library, where he went to complete his daily assignments before heading to his job. Ryan recalls sitting near the library windows so he could look out on the trees and green-space. Ryan revisited his favorite study spot when he returned to campus for his 50th reunion this summer. In recognition of the many hours he spent there as a student, he and his wife, Christine, committed a significant gift toward the current renovation of the Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library.
“My education at Canisius helped me stand up against any education other people had at the time,” says Ryan. “Canisius taught me how to think, taught me how to write, and gave me a set of ethical values that were right for me and perfect for Proctor & Gamble (P&G).”
Ryan spent his entire career with the multinational manufacturer. Although he lived briefly in Buffalo, Ryan later relocated to New York City and then Cincinnati, the site of P&G’s home office. He spent his last six years at the company’s Asian headquarters in Kobe, Japan.
Although Ryan has lived away from Canisius for many years, he still keeps alma mater close. Ryan reads everything he can about the college, pays particularly close attention to Canisius sports and continues to be informed by the Jesuit values instilled in him as a student.
His gift to the college’s library renovation project will ensure more computer workstations, more flexible student seating and more study spaces for the next generation of students. And there will always be a window seat available for Ryan, whenever he visits Canisius.
