Robert Michael Ryan

Other Events:

• Business: Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; bicycle repair
• Business: 11 Adam St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; bicycle shop
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-473895
• Home Child: 1914
• Occupation: 1923, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; knitter
• Occupation: 1925, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Jeweler
• Residence: 1926, Adam St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: 1931, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; dyer's helper
• Residence: 1973, 11 Adam St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Skating topped the list of winter sports. If you looked you'd see the evidence everywhere: large, snow-cleared patches of ice on the river, kids of all ages walking around with skates hung over their shoulders, hockey sticks piled high against the sides of houses (when not being carried to and fro), music emanating from that wooden-fence-enclosed, man-made rectangle of ice up on Kribs Street. All one had to do was to follow the skates, the hockey sticks and the music to find Hespeler's population in the wintertime. Everyone skated. It came as natural as breathing. And at the first sign of winter a line of would-be hockey and figure skating stars formed up outside Alfie Ryan's shop on Adam Street to get their skates sharpened so they'd be all ready to go when the river froze over and the skating rink was flooded.

My Town, When I Grow Old, I'll Remember, The anecdotal ramblings of a once-upon-a-time Hespelerite.
by E. Joyce Thomson Byrnes 2013, Guelph, Ontario

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RYAN, Alfred At St. Mary's Hospital, on Thursday, March 15, 1990, Alfred Edwin Ryan, age 89 years, of Eventide Home, Kitchener.

Mr. Ryan operated a jewelry store for many years.

A funeral and committal service will be held at A.R. Goudie Eventide Home, 369 Frederick St., Kitchener, on Friday at 2 p.m., Major A.E. Hiscock officiating. Interment Kitchener Mount Hope cemetery.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, 745-9495.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record Thu, Mar 15, 1990 Page 9

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I knew Alfie Ryan who had the bike shop on Adam Street in Hespeler…my Dad bought my first 2-wheel bike from Alfie…my Dad used to give him cigarettes when he owned Rick's Smoke shop on the corner of Adam and Queen…Alfie used to sit on a stump or chair in front of his shop and play a squeezebox/accordion..a lot of kids were afraid of him but he was harmless and I always chatted with him! I do not remember him owning a Jewelry store…there was Gunther's Jewellers and Stewart Jewellers that I remember…

Judy Rickert Norman - Facebook 2024

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Alfie Ryan used to work at the old Artex in Hespeler with my Grandpa Sam. Dad and my brother used to take him bags of groceries to thank him for being such a good friend to my Grandpa. When we were kids and were riding our bikes around town, if we got a flat or if something wrong with our bikes, we'd go to Alfie and he'd fix us up with no charge. When we'd tell Dad about this, he'd go back and pay Alfie for helping us. Alfie was a kind and gentle part of good 'Old Hespeler'.

Dave Allen - Facebook 2024

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Alf was a fellow with a metallurgical back ground. He would re-tin copper pans and make parts out of precious metals for artifacts and clock mechanisms. Alf sure was handy.

Wayne Conrad Serbu

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When I was growing up Alfie lived in the back of his bicycle shop.
I always heard that he came from Galt where he had a taxi business when he was younger

Bill Purdy Facebook 2024

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Alfie was a kind soul. He had some great stories. Most kids were afraid of him but I bought a small figurine from him and we became friends. I always popped in and we chatted.

Marge Borland - Facebook 2024

Home Child:
Dr. Barnardo

Alfred married Daisy Wright 10 Jun 1925, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Daisy (daughter of Frederick Wright and Daisy Topham) was born 26 Sep 1903, London, England; died 1989. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-473898
• Residence: 1926, Adam St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Gail Clemmens-Clemens said "she was a wonderful lady. Love her so much"

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-473899

Frederick — Daisy Topham. Daisy was born Oct 1877, Arlesey, , Bedfordshire, England; died Nov 1952, Lambeth, Middlesex Co., Ontario; was buried , Bracebridge, Macaulay Twp., Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-473900

Notes:

Mrs. Fred Wright
By Record Correspondent

HESPELER-Mrs. Fred Wright, 75, a former resident of Hespeler, died at her home at Lambeth, Ont. Her husband predeceased her nine years ago.

Among the survivors is a daughter, Mrs. Alfred Ryan, Hespeler. The funeral was held at Bracebridge.

Kitchener-Waterloo Record Fri, Nov 28, 1952 Page 7