For decades, Tom Ryan was the face of CVS and the CVS Golf Charity Classic. Though he retired as CEO and president of CVS Health Corporation in 2011, he鈥檚 not done yet. He鈥檚 busier than ever, striving to ignite transformative change through results-oriented philanthropy, including a record-breaking $35 million gift to 911爆料 this summer.
By Diane Sterrett
Dressed casually in khakis and blue linen that sets off laughing blue eyes and an affable demeanor, Tom Ryan 鈥�75, Hon. 鈥�99, relaxes on the stone patio of his Narragansett home and reflects on career, family, leadership, and giving back.
After a successful 37-year career at CVS, Ryan could surely trade in the spreadsheets for golf clubs. But he鈥檚 not built to be idle. 鈥淚 have a saying鈥攊f you鈥檙e through changing, you鈥檙e through鈥攏o matter what age,鈥� he says.
“I have a saying鈥攊f you鈥檙e through changing, you鈥檙e through鈥攏o matter what age.”
He radiates high energy, perhaps a result of his high-intensity training and Peloton workouts. 鈥淚 tell my friends he鈥檚 my Energizer bunny, because he never runs out of energy,鈥� says Cathy Ryan, his wife of 33 years. 鈥淲hen one thing鈥檚 done, he鈥檚 right on to the next.鈥�
Right now, that next thing is starting a venture company with two friends, investing in young entrepreneurs, companies, and ideas. 鈥淭hese are just incredibly talented people who are trying to do incredibly hard work,鈥� says Ryan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 overwhelming how bright, how energetic they are.鈥�
One of them is NexImmune, a biopharmaceutical company that鈥檚 trying to crack the code for some forms of cancer using the body鈥檚 own immune system to orchestrate a targeted T cell response. Their first product is expected to enter clinical trials this year. 鈥淭hey can actually turn on and off the gene that鈥檚 causing the problem. It鈥檚 fascinating,鈥� Ryan says. Of NexImmune, he contends, 鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on really big breakthroughs; we鈥檙e not looking for incremental change. We want to do something that鈥檚 going to have a dramatic societal impact.鈥�
That desire to create transformative change played a part in his family foundation鈥檚 original gift that established the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience at 911爆料 in 2013. That gift combines with the newest record-breaking $35 million gift, and others over the interceding years, to bring the Ryans鈥� lifetime giving to 911爆料 to more than $56 million. This total enters rarefied company for public universities.
Of the institute鈥檚 origin and his family鈥檚 contribution that created it, Ryan says, 鈥淚 wanted to do something on a transformational level at the University. After talking to [911爆料 President] Dave Dooley, my wife Cathy, and our kids, we came to the conclusion that Alzheimer鈥檚 and neurodegenerative diseases were where we wanted to focus. Alzheimer’s killed my dad and my mom鈥攎y dad from the disease, my mom from taking care of him. Alzheimer鈥檚 is a health-care tsunami coming at us. It鈥檚 going to be a trillion dollars in health-care costs each year, plus the impact on families. The fact that we were putting our family foundation money in, I wanted something meaningful that would also produce results. Results matter!鈥�
Ryan says the institute is doing some incredible things already, recruiting and retaining top-notch scientists and researchers and being awarded millions in grant money from the National Institutes of Health. 鈥淔or an embryonic stage institute, they鈥檝e done incredibly well. I am so proud of them. The institute changes things exponentially: It鈥檚 good for the University and raises our visibility around research. In recent years, we鈥檝e expanded our research capabilities in important ways under President Dooley鈥檚 leadership.鈥� The Ryans鈥� most recent gift will help the institute continue to do the kind of groundbreaking research it is already engaging in.
President David M. Dooley says he and Ryan share a strong commitment to finding ways for 911爆料 to advance both the science and the practice of healing and health, and he says Ryan inspires him with every conversation they have.
鈥淗e鈥檚 relentless in his push for excellence; when Tom takes on a project, he鈥檚 all in until it鈥檚 accomplished successfully. With the institute, for example, Tom didn鈥檛 just give a gift; he was involved in its founding and development. We all aspire for it to become one of the leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases in the country, and Tom remains engaged with that goal.鈥�
SEEDS OF SUCCESS
Ryan grew up in northern New Jersey and was the first college graduate in his middle-class working family. Family and sports, baseball and basketball in particular, had the biggest impact on forming his character.
鈥淪ports taught me a lot about teamwork, overall social development, how to work with others. Many times I was the unofficial leader on the team. I think sports help kids learn how to influence people who don鈥檛 鈥榳ork for you.鈥欌��
In school he had a penchant for math and science. He was inquisitive, always curious to learn more, a side of him you still see. 鈥淢y parents let us be pretty independent; I think that helped me follow my interests.鈥�
He also admits to being a bit of a prankster, but just enough to push the envelope. 鈥淣othing really bad. For example, in high school there was a teacher who drove a little MG. We took the molding off the exterior doors of the school, and put the MG between the doors鈥攈armless,鈥� laughs Ryan. 鈥淚 tell you though, it took a lot of people to pick up that car!鈥�
His parents instilled a deep work ethic, as well, and one summer job changed his life trajectory. 鈥淚n high school I worked at Jay鈥檚 Pharmacy in Oradell, New Jersey, as a delivery boy and I thought, 鈥楾his is a pretty good career.鈥� It combined health care and retail; I have a fairly outgoing personality and I didn鈥檛 want to be stuck in a research lab鈥擨 wanted to deal with people. So I picked pharmacy as a major when I was 16.鈥�
As an example of Ryan鈥檚 characteristic loyalty, Jay鈥檚 Pharmacy would be the one independent that, later in his career, he鈥檇 declare off-limits for CVS acquisition and for building a CVS nearby.
For college, he knew he wanted more than just a pharmacy school in case he changed majors. He visited 911爆料 on a bright sunny spring day and was seduced by the campus, the energetic people on the Quad, and the beach鈥攁nd his choice was made. 鈥淧lus, 911爆料 had a great pharmacy reputation.鈥�
A self-described OK student (鈥渙rganic chemistry was the bane of my existence鈥�), but a quick study, he credits a great deal of his success to 911爆料鈥攔elationships formed with fellow students and professors, and lessons learned in and out of the classroom. He knew he couldn鈥檛 study in the fraternity house he lived in, so he鈥檇 鈥渓ock in鈥� at the library for several hours each night.
Rather than the typical drug research track, Ryan gravitated toward classes focused on the business side of pharmacy taught by College of Pharmacy Professor Emeritus Norman Campbell.
Campbell says he taught Ryan in management, pharmacy law, and ethics courses. For a student in the heavily science-oriented pharmacy program, it was a different viewpoint about the profession at a time when independent 911爆料 pharmacists still had a strong influence.
As Ryan neared graduation, Campbell encouraged him to take a job at a company like CVS, learn what makes it tick, then go out on his own. He took Campbell鈥檚 advice, landing an entry-level job at CVS. He worked hard, worked his way up鈥攁nd never left.
鈥淚 think his personality had an influence on his success,鈥� Campbell says. 鈥淭o know Tom Ryan is to like him. He鈥檚 very personable, outgoing, treats everybody with respect. He learns and processes information in such a way that he takes everybody鈥檚 view and synthesizes the position. He鈥檚 not a pushy, top-to-bottom leader. He鈥檚 a person who encourages feedback from his subordinates and colleagues, considers everybody鈥檚 view, and processes that information before synthesizing a decision. He鈥檚 very much a 鈥榮mall-d鈥� democratic-type leader.鈥�
BUILDING A COMPANY, TRANSFORMING A CULTURE
Ryan credits his natural curiosity as part of what drove his success and longevity at CVS鈥攈e stayed, rising through the ranks. 鈥淭here was always something new, and I loved the business. The company was changing around me鈥攐r I was changing the company with the help of a lot of good people鈥攕o I was not looking ahead to the next job. I was happy with the job I was in. I was fortunate, we were a young company, growing.鈥�
Ryan was 42 when he became CEO in 1994. Two years later the company went public, which, he says, 鈥渟cared the hell out of me. But you can鈥檛 try to be whatever you think people think a CEO should be. You have to just be yourself.鈥�
That was a seminal moment in the pharmacy industry with a lot of consolidation on the horizon. As a public company, acquisitions were a big part of CVS鈥� growth from 1997 through 2005. He admits acquisitions took a lot of hard work to blend cultures, systems, and technology. 鈥淲e had a lot on our plates. It was always changing鈥攏ew stores, new technology, new people. I always felt challenged and I really loved the people I worked with. I loved seeing them succeed.鈥�
Ryan made leading a public company look easy, though he credits CVS founder Stan Goldstein with creating a great team culture that he inherited, and predecessor Harvey Rosenthal for being a great mentor. 鈥淲e had fantastic people all around us. I had a great board of directors, we had a good cadre of leaders, and good culture鈥攚hich is why I love the company. I think culture doesn鈥檛 get enough credit. It鈥檚 the soft stuff that makes hard results.鈥�
Beyond his vision for growth, Ryan wanted a cultural vision for the company as a whole. Under his leadership, CVS instituted six values of success: respect, integrity, teamwork, urgency, openness, and willingness to embrace change. Those core values grew out of strategy sessions. 鈥淲e talked about who we wanted to be as a company, what values we had. It really comes back to the leadership issue, and we wanted to lead as a corporate citizen. There鈥檚 a compass, things that are not negotiable: how you treat people, honesty, and respect.鈥�
When it comes to ethics, Ryan鈥檚 inner compass never wavers, and people remark on his frankness and honesty. 鈥淲hatever views he shares with you in a face-to-face or phone call, those are exactly the same views he will articulate in a public setting. I admire that consistency in him, and it reinforces how much you can rely on him,鈥� Dooley observes.
For most of his CVS career, the team culture topped all and they tended not to recognize individuals. Even getting the CEO job was a surprise鈥攈e didn鈥檛 know he was being considered.
鈥淚 thought to myself, 鈥榃e need to make sure people know they are valued and how they鈥檙e going to develop.鈥� We put in a development plan, where people knew they were in line for more responsibility and felt it. Selecting a few key potential players is always a big risk: What about the other people鈥攈ow do they feel? That鈥檚 a real tricky line to walk, but if you鈥檙e going to grow a company, you need it. So my last five to seven years at CVS, I started publicly recognizing people for their contributions, and it was meaningful. I only wish I鈥檇 done more of that sooner.鈥�
PAYING IT FORWARD
Ryan, who serves as chair of the 911爆料 Foundation & Alumni Engagement Board of Directors, has been a philanthropist his entire life, with 911爆料 tops on his list. Over the years, in addition to establishing the institute, the Ryans have generously contributed to the College of Pharmacy and 911爆料 Athletics, including instrumentally supporting the construction of the 7,600-seat Ryan Center.
The Ryans鈥� most recent gift will provide ongoing support for the neuroscience institute through endowment and operating resources to further their cutting-edge research. In addition, it will establish the Thomas M. Ryan Scholars program and create a challenge gift for men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball.
The Ryan Scholars program will give the highest performing high school students a new incentive to apply to 911爆料 and vie for four-year scholarships that provide leadership training and unmatched learning opportunities.
The athletic gift is a matching challenge issued by the Ryans鈥攖heir goal is to drive support for renovations to Tootell West Gymnasium, which will serve as a new men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball training facility, bringing 911爆料 in line with other top-tier programs and providing a competitive edge for recruitment and play.
鈥淚f not for 911爆料, I might not be in pharmacy,鈥� Ryan says. 鈥淚 owe a lot to 911爆料. I鈥檓 fortunate I鈥檓 in a position to help. State schools are in a budget crunch: We get less than 10 percent of our operating budget from the state. What better way to spend your money than helping students get an education that will last the rest of their lives? Then they鈥檒l give back and contribute. I don鈥檛 care what people give, but I would like alumni to make 911爆料 one of their top three or four philanthropic choices.鈥�
Dooley says Ryan is the kind of alumnus every institute wishes for. 鈥淗e wants to see 911爆料 meet all the potential it has; he wants to facilitate its growth and trajectory toward international prominence. His wealth of knowledge and experience, his commitment and generosity to the institution, his devotion to the University鈥攁ll of those things are manifested in Tom in a way that is very rare.鈥�
Shortly after Lil O鈥橰ourke arrived at the 911爆料 Foundation (now the 911爆料 Foundation & Alumni Engagement) as president, she was tasked with recruiting Ryan to be the board鈥檚 chair. It wasn鈥檛 too hard a sell, she says, but he did give it careful consideration. She appreciates his directness and accessibility, as well as his leadership.
鈥淓very time I鈥檓 with Tom or interact with him,鈥� says O鈥橰ourke, 鈥淚 gain new perspective on leadership. He sets aggressive goals and he鈥檚 gotten us to stretch in our fundraising. He鈥檚 a quick thinker and is so experienced鈥攈e鈥檚 seen it all. When you think of his international business reputation, the Ryan Center, the Ryan Institute, and his influence in the state of Rhode Island, he has a deep impact that benefits the University immensely. Through his interaction with other donors and prospects, he gets people involved. The value of that kind of influence and leadership is difficult to calculate.鈥�
Michael D. Fascitelli 鈥�78, Hon. 鈥�08, founder and managing partner of MDF Capital and Imperial Companies, has worked side by side with Ryan on 911爆料 matters for more than a dozen years, united by a common passion for helping the school. He says Ryan approaches his work in ways that elevate the University鈥攚ith vision, leadership, analytics, and a focused and disciplined approach to establishing goals and following up.
鈥淲ith Tom you know meetings are going to be well-run and well-planned. You know you鈥檙e not going to punt on difficult issues. He鈥檚 demanding, but inclusive and collaborative.鈥�
Dooley appreciates Ryan bringing his corporate experience to the 911爆料 Foundation & Alumni Engagement board. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to do something, we鈥檙e going to do it right and it鈥檚 going to be the best. He has recruited fantastic people to join him in the endeavor who are willing to do it because Tom is there.鈥�
Many who know Ryan say leading by example is part of the secret sauce that makes him successful.
鈥淭om鈥檚 a winner,鈥� Fascitelli says. 鈥淲inners win, and he inspires confidence in others that a goal can be met, that something can be done, even if it鈥檚 hard. He inspires others to believe in a common goal, to participate in getting it established and executed. He鈥檚 a very team-oriented guy, but he pushes people for individual levels of excellence so the team can do better. And that鈥檚 a skill. That’s a winner, somebody who can get others across the finish line.鈥�
The two alums also golf together, and Fascitelli says Ryan is very competitive, but incredibly honest and fun to play with. Ryan brought his passion for golf and helping others together in the CVS Health Charity Classic. He was instrumental in launching the tournament in 1999 with pros Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, but in trademark fashion, he sidesteps praise.
鈥淥ur success was due to Billy and Brad; they got the pros to come, and we were fortunate to get some of the best players in the game, many of them Hall of Famers. I鈥檝e always said there are givers and takers in life, and they are all givers. They could have made more money elsewhere, but they came here to help our charities.鈥�
Two decades later, he鈥檚 proud of the amount of money the tournament gives back. Just two days long, the CVS Classic is one of the top golf tournaments in terms of the amount of money given to charity鈥攐ver $20 million to date. And gifts benefit a diverse group of charities, with causes ranging from children鈥檚 services to homelessness to the environment.
A 10-handicapper, Ryan鈥檚 inner athlete is modest, too, even though he and Brad Faxon won the AT&T Pro-Am in 2003, and his name is etched on 鈥渢he rock鈥� at Pebble Beach. 鈥淪tanding on the 18th green and receiving the trophy from Clint Eastwood was surreal. But note: I鈥檝e never won any golf tournament alone. It鈥檚 always with a good partner, just like in life.鈥�
Ryan also worked with a nonprofit called Year Up, which gives at-risk young men and women 鈥渁 hand up, not a handout. It鈥檚 where capitalism meets education: We pay young adults to go to school. Show up, they get paid; don鈥檛 show up, they don鈥檛 get paid; show up late, they get docked. We teach them things you and I take for granted: Shake hands, look people in the eye, keep your head up. To me, 90 percent of life is showing up.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e never won any golf tournament alone. It鈥檚 always with a good partner, just like in life.鈥�
Community College of Rhode Island President Meghan Hughes worked with Ryan in her role as Year Up executive director from 2009鈥�2015. 鈥淭he two words that come to mind for Tom are: 鈥榠n it.鈥� We鈥檇 been told Rhode Island was too small to grow the program. Tom rolled up his sleeves and helped me build a strategy to persuade national leadership that we would double, successfully. He has a curious intellect, almost an engineering mind, so he was really interested in the question of, 鈥楬ow do you grow a nonprofit business in Rhode Island鈥檚 economy?鈥� He gave very frank feedback, which quickly allowed me to trust him. I knew he stood behind what he was telling me, and that allowed me to go further faster.鈥�
Ryan also made it a point to get to know the students and their stories, sharing his own story of success through hard work to inspire them about what鈥檚 possible.
鈥淗e was really in it to make sure the organization would be successful, and that had an enormous impact on our young adults. Here was someone with that title, frankly that looked like he does, a 60-year-old white guy in a suit and tie, who was willing to sit down and give them that kind of time.鈥�
IT’S NOT RETIREMENT. IT’S PHASE 2.
People ask how retirement is going. Ryan says, 鈥淚 can never retire. I call it phase 2.鈥�
He estimates 20 percent of his time is spent on his venture firm; 30 percent on two boards he serves on; then the institute, 911爆料, and the 911爆料 Foundation & Alumni Engagement. 鈥淭he rest of my time is spent with family and friends. It鈥檚 nice to hang around with people you want to be with.鈥�
Cathy says when they get a chance to escape, they love Europe or anyplace new. 鈥淲e both enjoy traveling, and when it comes time to take two weeks off, we do. But before, when he was at CVS? Never,鈥� she laughs.
鈥淏e the hardest working person in the room and life will work out.鈥�
His business personality does seep into family life a bit, says Cathy. 鈥淗e always wants something to do, so he expects the whole family to rally and stay busy. When we鈥檙e all together, we鈥檙e on a schedule and he wants to know what are we doing next.鈥�
Ryan is proud of his family鈥攚ife Cathy and four children. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of all of them, of how they are as fathers and mothers. They are fantastic and just good people, which means the world to me.鈥�
His children say the same of him鈥攁nd add that he is generous with his time and insights, leading by example.
鈥淗e worked extraordinarily hard and instilled that ethic in us,鈥� says son Tim Ryan, CFO at Kate Spade. 鈥淲e always had a job, and spent at least one summer working for CVS鈥攂ut in the distribution center, not the typical intern in an office. I think he was trying to show us that whether you鈥檙e stacking boxes or the CEO, your job is no less or more important. I learned the value of putting my full self into whatever task I was doing. That鈥檚 something he鈥檚 always done.鈥�
Now a father of three, Tim is amazed at all his father accomplished while still being fully present.
鈥淗e has an ability to step outside himself and relate to each of his children in a different way, make each one of us feel special and drive us in a unique way. If I鈥檓 talking to him about fashion, or my stepbrother is talking about his beer company, he鈥檚 trying to understand it. He鈥檚 an immensely curious person who asks a lot of questions, which is why he has an amazing ability to be relevant to everyone. He has a genuine interest in what people are doing, his mind never stops moving and that鈥檚 part of the reason he always has something interesting to say. He鈥檚 very infectious to follow, a tremendously charismatic person.鈥�
Daughter Heather Leonard, an emergency department physician at Hartford Hospital, agrees. She describes her father as driven and hardworking, but with a gift for being able to make everyone around him feel comfortable.
鈥淗e gives me perspective on life and what鈥檚 important. For example, when you鈥檙e young and all you want is to make a certain team, and you don鈥檛, you think your life is over. He鈥檇 tell us, 鈥榃hen you fail or hit a roadblock, just pick yourself up and keep going. You can pick another avenue and still get where you want to go.鈥� Whether it was sports or med school, he鈥檇 say, 鈥業f you want to go for something in life that is hard to attain, you鈥檙e going to have to sacrifice. Be the hardest working person in the room and life will work out.鈥欌��
Now a mom of two, she says her kids call Ryan 鈥淧oppy.鈥� A bright smile lights up his face when he talks about spending time with his eight grandchildren.
鈥淲hen they come to visit, one of our rituals is that I take them to Dunkin鈥� Donuts and ask them, 鈥榃hat don鈥檛 I know about you that I should know about you?鈥� They鈥檝e come to anticipate it, and prepare for it. One will say, 鈥業 was in a play.鈥� Another will tell me math is his favorite subject. They learn from each other, too, and we just have the best time.鈥�
When asked what he worries about now, his answer is thoughtful. 鈥淭he lack of leadership in our country. Some say leaders don鈥檛 matter, but I think they really do, they set the tone at the top. Having said that, I have full confidence in our country and our people that we can withstand some poor leadership for a while. Other than that, I am bullish on this country, I鈥檓 bullish on young people. I think our country is in good hands for the young generation that鈥檚 coming up.鈥�
By any measure, Ryan鈥檚 is an exceedingly accomplished life. But he鈥檚 not comfortable with accolades, Cathy says. 鈥淗e thinks he鈥檚 just a regular guy.鈥�
This benefactor, grandfather, and influencer still has his sleeves rolled up and his sights set on big breakthroughs. It鈥檚 a safe bet that Tom Ryan, phase 2, will continue to be anything but regular. 鈥�
TOM RYAN ON HEALTH CARE
Having spent nearly four decades in the pharmacy world, Tom Ryan 鈥�75, Hon. 鈥�99, is still passionate about the industry and sees an increasing role for pharmacists in health care.
鈥淲hen you look at the value of pharmacy and what it does to reduce hospitalizations, reduce surgeries, and keep people at work, there鈥檚 nothing like it. Drugs are our most cost-effective tool. Whether it鈥檚 for high cholesterol or high blood pressure or diabetes, think about it: Without pharmaceuticals, where would we be? It鈥檚 going to happen with cancer, we鈥檙e beginning to see it. And pharmacists are the most accessible health-care provider we have.鈥�
While at CVS, Ryan oversaw the introduction of Minute Clinic, which brought registered nurses and physician assistants into the drugstore setting to increase access to care. At the time, people wondered why. Ryan pointed to the shortage of primary care physicians and people visiting the ER for minor issues. 鈥淵ou can have that same visit at Minute Clinic for $60, while in a hospital setting it costs $250. We have to get smarter. We can鈥檛 afford the system we have.鈥�
Taking that idea a step further, Ryan sees a role for pharmacists being involved in health and wellness programs and therapy compliance. For example, if someone is diabetic, part of their care requirement might be to stop in at a Minute Clinic once a month to review their drug therapies and/or diet to see what they鈥檙e doing right or where they can improve.
鈥淧atients are going to have to own more of their health. I believe people who don鈥檛 will have to pay more for coverage. For example, if you鈥檙e a smoker, you鈥檙e costing the system money; I think you should pay more for insurance. There are certain lifestyle changes people need to be responsible for. This is not Big Brother, this is just common sense: Bad drivers pay more auto insurance.鈥�
Ryan has a passion for similar innovations that can help make people鈥檚 lives better, says his daughter, Dr. Heather Ryan Leonard, an emergency department physician at Hartford Hospital. Issues on her front burner are wait times and patient volume, and they often bounce ideas off each other.
Of these conversations with her dad, Leonard says, 鈥淗e has so much experience in business and the pharmacy world, and I鈥檓 on the other end of things. He鈥檚 very interested in how we can help people, make things easier. We talk about the future of medicine or inventions, what could help people have a better quality of life in the future. If he hears about a new innovation or medicine, something up-and-coming, he鈥檒l talk to me about it. He鈥檚 very non-judgmental鈥搃f someone approaches him with an idea, he鈥檚 willing to listen and explore it.鈥�
When it comes to the health-care industry as a whole, Ryan feels the biggest issues are access, cost, and quality, but believes in a smaller, slower approach, rather than a total overhaul.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to fix it overnight. I don鈥檛 believe Medicare for All is the answer. My belief is, first, we should take care of the children. All children should always have access to health care. Second, we should take care of catastrophic coverage for all Americans鈥搕here should be no family in this country that gets wiped out because of a catastrophic illness. The government can backstop it, it just takes leadership and political will. Third, insurance coverage for families or individuals below a certain income threshold. Let鈥檚 start there and see where the market and results go.鈥�
Finally, Ryan sees an investment in technology as a large part of how health care can be improved. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so far behind other industries with use of technology. I don鈥檛 mean devices; I鈥檓 talking about medical records, sharing of information that could be improved. I think there鈥檚 redundancy of cost and misuse of systems, and I think tech can help eliminate that.鈥� 鈥�
This was a wonderful article about an extremely fascinating individual and 911爆料 alum. I was aware of some of what Tom Ryan had accomplished, but this article gave me new and encouraging insights.
We are very fortunate to be the beneficiaries of Tom’s experience and generosity and I truly hope that his leading-edge thinking and generosity will bear fruit and provide untold benefits to everyone in this wonderful country and indeed, in the world.
Thank you, Tom Ryan
Bob Tetreault
911爆料 1966
What a wonderful article and story–Thank you. I have known Tom for a long time and the author captures both his personality and intellect perfectly I think. In spite of his New Jersey roots, Tom has become a true Rhode Islander. There are a lot of wealthy people in our State, but few have left as important and lasting a mark on life here as Tom and Cathy. We should all be very proud to have them as part of our 911爆料.