Patricia Ryan

Patricia Ryan (February 25, 1921 – February 15, 1949) was a child and later young adult performer and an actress in old-time radio. She was taken ill during an evening broadcast and died the next day.

Early years Ryan's father John Ryan was a doughboy in World War I. During his time in London he met Edith Lottie wood, and they married in 1916. Their daughter, Patricia, was born about six weeks before they boarded a ship to emigrate to the United States. She worked in vaudeville when she was 7 years old. She also sang in the choir and played on the basketball team of St. Michael's Church.

Ryan had two sisters Pauline and Juanita, born in 1918 and 1926 respectively.

Radio Ryan began working in radio when she was 4 years old. Her best-known role was probably that of Kathleen, Henry Aldrich's girlfriend on The Aldrich Family.

As a child, she was also a member of the casts of Our Barn Let's Pretend.

Public service During World War II, Ryan worked two years as a nurse's aide after receiving her diploma from Misericordia Hospital in Manhattan, New York. She also was a hostess at the Stage Door Canteen. On a typical day, she worked at a hospital from 7:15 a.m. until noon, spent the afternoon on radio and visited with soldiers at the canteen in the evenings.

Personal life Ryan married George Robert Gibson, seaman in the Royal Navy, on August 5, 1945 in Manhattan.

Death On February 14, 1949, Ryan was performing on a Cavalcade of America broadcast when, as reported in a United Press wire service story, she was "stricken with a splitting headache."

The UP story related: "The show had been on only a few minutes when she [Ryan] clutched her head and swayed. She was helped to a chair and two other actresses alternately read her lines. Before the program ended she had recovered enough to resume her part, but still complained of an extremely severe headache."