Daniel Ryan ‘86 Wall Street Veteran & SFP Hall of Famer

from 2023 Golf Classic Journal

Jimmy Lynch ‘99

After college, Danny Ryan embarked upon a career in business. While working on Wall Street for more than 30 years, he got involved in a host of charitable causes. In the past decade he established a charitable organization of his own —“Unsung Siblings Foundation”—which benefits a variety of important community causes.

Daniel has served the Wall Street community for three decades in a variety of capacities including as a Governor of the NYSE for 20 years. As the Managing Director of E & J Securities, Inc. Daniel’s focus is on strategic initiatives for trading listed equities on the NYSE floor. He is also a partner and director of operations of Notorious Pink Wines, a French Wine company which is the fifth largest rose`company in the United States and growing.

He is the oldest of three children of the late Dorothea and Daniel Ryan. His siblings, Kimberly Ryan Levin and late brother, Christopher (who passed away in 2018) grew up in a quiet section of Whitestone, Queens. It was there that their parents instilled the importance of family. “We were blessed with a beautiful childhood; a safe home filled with so much love; parents who dedicated their lives to our wellbeing and happiness” Ryan said of his early years.

At St. Francis Prep he developed many close friendships with people who he considers his second family. These bonds remain today as they were on graduation day in 1986. At least once a month they get together at a restaurant or in someone’s home. It is a tradition that they have honored for more than 25 years.

Danny (as his close friends refer to him) is the father of three amazing boys: Michael, Daniel and Jonathan. His middle son, Jonathan was diagnosed with Autism when he was two years old. At the time of his diagnosis there were very few resources dedicated to the study of Autism. “I began joining local charity boards to help others and learn as much as possible to help my son.” Danny said. And that’s when his drive to help others in need began. It’s estimated that over the past 20 years he has helped raised over $10 million for various charities.

Danny served on the National Board of National Alliance for Autism Research in 2000 until it merged with Autism Speaks in 2006. The Autism Speaks Walk is the world’s largest autism fundraising event dedicated to supporting the needs of people with autism and their families and he helped recruit many participants and sponsorships for the Walk.

Siblings have the potential to have a significant impact on one another’s development and well-being and are often our first friends and our best friends. Danny recognized how the siblings of a child with autism were heavily impacted and were not often celebrated and sometimes overlooked. He said, “I saw how much my boys, Michael, and Daniel took care of and assisted their brother, Jonny at such young ages. I was grateful and very inspired by that.” So in 2016, Ryan established the Unsung Siblings Foundation with the goal of helping special needs children and their siblings.

Helping Veterans

In 2018, Daniel’s brother, Christopher (age 47), a proud Army Veteran suddenly passed away. “Losing our brother changed our relationship” said Kimberly. “We became closer and understood what we had lost... something no one else could. Our dynamic as siblings changed because it was just us two now and losing Chris, truly showed us how precious life can be.” she said.

The Unsung Siblings Foundation board decided that the best way to honor Chris was to continue the work he did. Chris ran a charity he created— Clothes to Home— that focused on helping homeless Vets. Unsung Siblings expanded the foundation’s mission to help veterans and their families. Within a short time, they partnered with Paws of War, an organization that provides service dogs to Veterans. “Christopher’s love of dogs and his service made it such a seamless choice particularly after seeing the impact that these service dogs had on our brave men and women.” said Daniel.

“We wanted to do more after hearing a veteran say, ‘If it’s between me or my dog eating, I don’t mind skipping a meal’” Ryan said. That prompted the Unsung Siblings Foundation board to develop CHRIStmas Angels—a program which assists veterans who are financially struggling by providing them with gift cards and cash assistance. They also hold clothing and food drives to support various veterans causes and are in the process of partnering with more organizations to help those who have truly sacrificed so much.

Two years after losing Chris, the Ryan family experienced another sudden loss when their mother, Dorothea passed away in the very early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic. “Once again we learned that with each other’s support and love we could get through anything.” In the midst of their family’s heartbreak and grief, they organized an effort to provide relief to overworked front-line medical workers by delivering restaurant meals to area hospitals. (It incidentally also provided much-needed assistance to many struggling restaurant owners and their staff during the lock-down period.)

Terrier Spirit

Danny’s enduring Terrier spirit has been evident in his work with the Friends of St. Francis Football Fund He and his classmate, Coach Rich Carroll ‘86 arranged for the football program’s 100th anniversary celebration to take place on the floor of the NYSE. Coach Carroll said, “Danny has been a true Friend of St Francis Prep Football and a force for good for so many in our St. Francis Prep community. Without any hesitation, time and time again, Dan has stepped in to assist and facilitate educational opportunities.”

Coach Carroll went on to say, “He continually offers recognition to our players both with siblings of those with special needs and our entire football family. Through contributions, assistance and actively brainstorming on so many of our football events and functions— he enhances the SFP Football family culture and everyone’s SFP Football experience.”

In 2016, Danny was inducted into the St. Francis Preparatory School Hall of Fame for his contributions to the community--one of his proudest accomplishments!

St. Francis Prep is delighted to honor Danny at the tonight’s Golf Classic! Congratulations and thanks for all that you do for SFP!