Saratoga Springs, NY - Paul J. Ryan, Sr., 69, of Saratoga Springs and Cape Coral Florida, died Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Saratoga Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Ryan was born in Albany, NY and was a graduate of Cardinal McClosky High School. Mr. Ryan attended Siena College on a NYS Regents scholarship that he won through a competitive exam application process and graduated with a degree in marketing. He was employed for many years as a Welfare Fraud Investigator with the State of New York, retiring in 2008 from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). As a youth he was an avid hunter and fisherman who went on to serve in the U.S. Army, The National Guard, The Army Reserves and was commissioned a 2 nd Lieutenant in the NY Guard. He also served many years as an EMT and member of the W. F. Bruen Rescue Squad in East Greenbush, NY, at times holding Table and Line officer positions. He was a proud member of the Saratoga Council 246 Knights of Columbus Third Degree and the Saratoga-Wilton B.P.O. Elks Lodge 161. More recently Mr. Ryan enjoyed becoming more involved with the Cape Coral community in Florida. He was predeceased by his parents Charles J. Ryan and Mary E. Kennedy Ryan of Albany and Saratoga Springs, and siblings Sheila (Gary) Farmer of Chesapeake, VA, Joseph Ryan of Delmar, NY, Thomas Ryan of Albany, NY, infant Anne Christine Ryan and Sandra Ryan, sister-in-law of Damascus, MD. Mr. Ryan leaves behind his wife Mary T. Rafferty Ryan, and his children Paul (Nicole) Ryan, Jr. of Fort Ann, NY, Patrick (Anne) Ryan of Wilton, NY, Kathleen Ryan of Erie, PA, Kevin Ryan of Clifton Park, NY, and Jennifer (Joseph) Gargano of Saratoga Springs, NY, along with his eight grandchildren, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Thomas and Madeleine Ryan-Lorei, Allison and Amanda Ryan, and Julian and Dylan Gargano. Paul's siblings include Charles A. Ryan (Billie) of Chesapeake, VA, Marilyn (John) Corbitt of Albany, NY, Dennis (Gail) Ryan of Summerfield, FL, Eileen (Charles) Cronin of Albany, NY, Lawrence Ryan of Damascus, MD, Michael Ryan of Delmar, NY, Marybeth (Robert) Conrad of Loudonville, NY, and Stephen (Kelly) Ryan of East Greenbush, NY and his extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins within the Ryan and Adams families. Relatives and friends may call from 5 to 8pm Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway (584-5373). Officers and members of the Knights of Columbus #246 will meet for their service at 7pm at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30am Thursday in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway by the Very Rev. Dominic S. Ingemie, pastor. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery, West Avenue. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.