Charles A. Ryan, 94 of Oceanport, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 4 ^th .

Charlie lived his entire life in Oceanport. Born in 1927, Charlie was named for Charles Lindberg, whose plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, was returned from the nonstop flight from New York City to Paris the day Charlie was born.  His sense of adventure, commitment, dedication and grit honored the name.  Charlie was a man hard to forget.

He served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy in the Philippines during WWII. Charlie retired after 37 years as the principal highway engineer for the state of New Jersey, He and his staff designed the roads he drove his classic car collection.  Charlie was an original member of the commission to bring home the battleship USS New Jersey.

Charlie was a life member of the Long Branch Ice Boat and Yacht Club and was honored with a meeting room being named the Charlie Ryan room in honor of his accomplishments. He sailed catamarans, comets, yachts and iceboats for 50 years. Charlie loved anything involving the water, people, animals and cars.

Charlie was predeceased by his wife, Gretchen Schuler; his parents Kathleen Maguire Ryan and Edward Ryan; his sisters Eileen Ryan, Kathleen Greenwood, Virginia Grey and Margaret O'Halloran and his brother Edward A. Ryan.  Surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Wednesday, July 7 ^th 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch.  Mass of Christian burial Thursday July 8 ^th 10:30 am at Church of the Precious Blood, 72 Riverdale Avenue, Monmouth Beach. Burial to follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. In lieu of customary remembrances, donations may be made in Charlie's memory to the S.P.C.A., 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724; www.monmouthcountyspca.org .  For messages of condolence please visit Charlie's page of tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com.