“There is simply no counting the lives you’ve touched during your 80 years,” read one of his birthday cards a decade ago. That same truth was evident ten years later at Pete Ryan’s surprise 90th birthday party last week. Pete’s “touch” was clearly evident in many lives as they told their “Pete stories” to an audience of 60 birthday celebrants. It was no surprise to anyone. His touch had not diminished.
A party and three hours of socializing was a perfect way to honor friend, father and grandfather; the Tahoma High School teacher, counselor, administrator and coach; and always, the quiet effective hustler still on the basketball court.
Celebrants shared stories of the past. Stories that occurred on basketball courts, within THS classrooms, and In daily lives of those attending the party. The story-telling portion began with my personal account. I told the audience, “Pete and I first connected at Tahoma where he was a teacher and I was a student. A dozen years later we connected again at Tahoma when he was a counselor and I was a newly hired teacher. Many, many more years went by until we both qualified as Senior Citizens. We touched lives once again, this time as teammates playing senior softball for Maple Valley.”
At his party, the birthday story of Pete’s “touch” on my life started with questions directed to the audience, “How much did a pack of cigarettes cost in the 1960’s?” One person almost immediately guessed correctly – about 35-cents. My second question was, “What is today’s price range?” The folks answered out-of-range with $6, $7 or $8 a pack. I had checked the current cost of Marlboro, Winston and Camels – all about $10. “By averaging the total 43 years at half pack a day, I figured out the savings of not purchasing cigarettes,” I told the audience, “and I believe Pete not only saved my life, he saved me from spending an estimated $39,237 on cigarettes.”
Our country’s first National Stop Smoking Day was in 1976. Pete had challenged educators at Tahoma to quit. He collected $100 from each of us who wanted to stop smoking. If successful, we would get our money back. If not…well, the cash would first pay for a lunch for Pete and his organizers. The rest would be contributed to National Cancer Society. I took the challenge and quit. It’s been 43 years since that day I got my $100 back. Pete touched my life.
Tom Elliott, a 1964 Tahoma graduate, told how Pete touched his life when he was at risk and not doing well in algebra. Pete arranged successful tutorial assistance from a math teacher making Tom able to earn a passing grade. Tom said he has always been thankful. Jane Hartwell shared her time as a teenager when Pete was her neighbor. “He was always so kind to stop and ask if I would like a ride to school,” she said. Then she added that it would “not be cool” for classmates to see her riding as a passenger with the school’s vice principal. Comedy came into play with Maury Running, who called himself a friend of Pete’s. He got laughs aloud from the audience while relating a story about Pete and himself out driving in a newly purchased truck. They ended up at a Maple Valley tavern, drank way too much, could barely walk, ran out of money, and had to telephone for a safe ride home. A1964 THS graduate and athlete, Mike Fletcher, shared his basketball story about a play-off game that was critical to break a tie in Tahoma’s favor. Tahoma won. His coach at that game was Pete Ryan. He and Mike, the athlete, were still reminiscing two days later, recalling more of their hoop shooting scenarios while playing card games at Maple Valley Community Center. Those basketball stories, more than 50 years old, still have an emotional touch about personal connection in lives.
For the audience, I hypothetically interviewed Pete about turning age 90. “Do you need help blowing out 90 candles?” I asked. The audience laughed because this is a guy who ‘mythically’ was born with a basketball in his hands, one with energy, tenacity and steam. A guy whose doctors told him last year that he could no longer play basketball unless he underwent knee replacement surgery. We were all talking about a player who is, this year after knee surgery, still demonstrating strength and agility.
My second question was personal for me. I have a couple decades to go to equal Pete in collecting our Teachers’ Retirement. I wondered aloud if our retirement plan was sufficient income to last until age 90. I asked, “Should I return your favor of saving my life by giving you one half of $39,237 I saved by not buying cigarettes?” Pete stood up, nodded, and with his infectious smile said, “Yes, I could use half.”
A flier posted both online and at Pete’s party, described what life was like in 1929 when he was born. Life expectancy was age 57. Ten years ago, when asked about an 80-year lifespan, Pete had advised, “Stay active and get in shape.” His three health tips were: a morning glass of hot water, one low dose daily aspirin, get up at 5:30 am to start the day. Pete nodded as I re-read each of those three tips at his 90th. He was still in compliance these 10 years later.
In anticipation of each decade’s birthday gathering, I had asked Pete back in 2009 his advice for longevity. I repeated his answer at last week’s 2019 birthday party. His quirky smile and quick reply had been, “Don’t die.”
We thank you, Pete, for following your own advice.
