Above all, Jack Ryan – who passed away after a short illness at age 102 – was a “real gentleman both in private and public life. “What you saw was what you got,” said son Stephen Ryan.

Mr Ryan was the oldest of Harbourside’s three friends, outliving both Eric Holliday, known for his rose farm in Bobs Farm, and Bart Richardson, a World War II prisoner of war hero.

Harbourside chairman Gerry Mohan described Mr Ryan’s passing as a “great loss” and commented how he would be joining Eric, Bart and the late Butch Foley “in a residents meeting up there presided by the late Bill King”.

Born on December 27, 1916, Mr Ryan was brought up during the Depression era around the Adamstown and Broadmeadow area.

His very first job was as a milk delivery boy on horse and cart. He married his childhood sweetheart Gloria in November 1940 and the coupled enjoyed more than 50 years together.

“Jack enlisted in the Air Force during the Second World War and served as an electrician. After his discharge in 1946 he worked for the railways as a guard on both coal and passenger trains,” Stephen said. The couple retired in 1980 moving to Port Stephens.

As a former player, administrator (including 20 years as president) and life member of the Adamstown Rosebuds soccer club, the club in 2014 introduced the Jack Ryan Medal to be awarded for the clash between Adamstown and Broadmeadow.

In a 2015 Examiner interview, Mr Ryan quipped: ‘‘You know I represented Australia in soccer ... with the Air Force during the war in a match against the old enemy [English RAF team].’’

Mr Ryan was transferred from his private villa at Harbourside Haven into the nursing home in January 2018 after suffering a broken hip from a fall.

“Fortunately we were able to get dad home in Corlette for his 102 birthday,” Stephen said. 

Mr Ryan was buried in a private funeral last Friday. He is survived by son Stephen, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.