Our classmate John Runyon submitted the following article for publication on our website. The genesis of the article stems from the comments and eulogies John heard when attending George Bonfe’s memorial service. That led him to learning more about the other paraplegic in our class, Mike Ryan. He has tried to put into words how moved he was by learning about these exceptional individuals. What made these two exceptional was their common traits of courage, compassion, generosity, patience, and perseverance among others. They lived life well and deserve our admiration. Their stories are the impetus behind establishing a scholarship in their memory and to help a physically challenged student attend Cretin-Derham Hall. You can learn more about the scholarship and how to support it by clicking here.
Joe Schufman
June of 1963, 268 of us proudly left Cretin High School with Diplomas representing not only the knowledge imparted by our Christian Brothers faculty, but most importantly the values which they embodied and taught. Thus 268 stories followed those young men into what are now their “golden years” or to the final rest of those already departed.
At our 50th reunion, some memories from those stories were captured in a book put together by classmates Joe M. McGrath and Len Mitsch. And as our 60th reunion approaches, two unique lives shine down as examples from our departed classmates. As they passed each other many times in the halls of Cretin, these two students could never imagine how much their lives would have parallels to inspire us 60 years later.
George Bonfe and Mike Ryan were exceptional individuals who both suffered life changing injuries while in the prime of their young lives. Even though both lost the use of their legs, they did not let that handicap hinder their love of life and people. What they both did in spite of their physical limitations was amazing!
Mike Ryan was a platoon commander in Vietnam. In September of 1968, while trying to pull one of his wounded soldiers from an enemy ambush, a sniper’s bullet hit his spinal cord, putting him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In November of 1965 George Bonfe was riding home for Thanksgiving Leave from Army training when his car overturned near Oronoco, Minnesota, killing the driver and leaving George with a spinal injury which also confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Each of us can wonder how we might have reacted, but George, in a wheelchair and unmarried, adopted three children from outside the U.S. when the agencies here said he couldn’t parent. He built a successful business and a home on Forest Lake. When he couldn’t find adequate daycare for his adopted son, he bought property and had a daycare built, one of two successful businesses he started.
His son “Robbie” remembers his Dad assembling the playground equipment. Robbie, at George’s urging, applied to West Point, and after graduation has served almost twenty years.
George’s daughter Deoki followed Robbie into the Army, serving two tours. George tirelessly sent care packages to the troops. Box upon box were stacked in his garage, and Deoki says “Whatever he could do to put a smile on your face, he would do it.” When George’s daughter Sunithia needed hand surgery, George found help at Shriners’s Hospital. She says “I miss him every day.”
George built his own airplane, learned to fly with hand controls, and piloted his jet ski, boat, snowmobile, and van – “his only obstacle was stairs, but somehow he always made it to the top”. George also bought a very small West St Paul business in the early 70’s, growing that business and building a new larger building about a mile down the road—Southview Liquor, a store he directly managed for many years.
He honored the fallen at funerals and the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial, and departed us on Veterans Day in 2021. A tribute (click to read here) to his “remarkable life and accomplishments” was entered into the Congressional Record.
What did Mike Ryan do? He’d graduated from St John’s before joining the Marines. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with combat “V” for valor under fire. The Book “Care under Fire” fittingly autographed by the author at George Bonfe’s American Legion Post #225, will take any reader back to the daily ordeal faced by Lieutenant Ryan in the jungles of Vietnam. Inside the cover: “To George Bonfe and Mike Ryan, who gave their legs to benefit us all. You know how to turn adversity into something positive.”
Looking back we could say, not only “positive,” but amazing!
After Mike’s medical discharge, his treatment included physical therapy. His therapist so enjoyed his demeanor and sense of humor that they later married. They adopted and raised three sons. His wife Karen says his practical jokes are legend in the Arizona judicial world. Mike went to Graduate School, taught briefly in High School, then went to Law School and became a Maricopa County prosecutor. “He had a unique ability to form lasting relationships with victims and their families.” Through his legal accomplishments he was elevated to the Superior Court, and then to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Over the years, Mike and Karen became foster parents to approximately 80 high risk infants. Meaning that in addition to their own adopted children, they found time to care for many other children, those awaiting adoption or eventual return to their mothers who were experiencing temporary hardships.
In 2002 Mike was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court, He retired in 2010, but continued to work on Court projects until his death in January of 2012. A fellow Marine (and Judge), after speaking at Mike’s Supreme Court investiture, said that it was “the greatest honor of my career.”
Mike was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery with a Drum and Bugle Corps setting cadence in “steady repetitive triplets.” And an Honor Guard carrying the colors, followed by the 24 men of a rifle platoon. Then 7 horses, four with riders. Then the caisson carrying Mike’s flag draped coffin. His fellow Marines bore that casket to the gravesite and with it, the later ceremoniously folded flag for presentation to Karen.
After a rifle salute and the plaintive farewell of taps had faded, Mike’s granddaughter Alicia handed out green foil shamrocks (befitting an Irishman) which the family sprinkled in final tribute on his coffin. Not long after, she told Karen: “He doesn’t need his wheelchair anymore. He is dancing, and he has wings!”
A link to a great article in tribute to “Hon. Michael D. Ryan” is (here).
Mike and George’s dedication to their families, their community and their country began with the values imparted by their parents and reinforced by the Christian Brothers and Cretin High School. All of us can be very proud of both of them.
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