85-Year-Old Army Vet Comes Out as Gay in Obituary
obituary, which ran in the June 8 edition of the Albany Times-Union, included a message he wrote ahead of his death.“I must tell you one more thing,” the message begins. “I was Gay all my life: thru grade school, thru High School, thru College, thru Life.”The message then reveals Ryan “was in a loving and caring relationship with Paul Cavagnaro of North Greenbush.
He was the love of my life. We had 25 great years together. Paul died in 1994 from a medical procedure gone wrong. I’ll be buried next to Paul.“I’m sorry for not having the courage to come out as Gay,” the message continues. “I was afraid of being ostracized: by Family, Friends, and Co-Workers.
Seeing how people like me were treated, I just could not do it.“Now that my secret is known, I’ll forever Rest in Peace.”Ryan, the youngest of six siblings, lived most of his life in upstate New York, including Albany and Rensselaer.
He served in the Vietnam War and remained in the Army as the chef at East Greenbush American Legion Post #1231.Ryan’s military service won him several honors, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Defense of Liberty Medal for “participation to the State following the attack on America, 11 September 2001,” reports The New York Post.Ryan had reason to fear being outed as gay.For much of his career, being caught engaging in same-sex activity or a same-sex relationship was grounds for dismissal.
