RYAN MARILYN CYPHERS Of Madison, CT, passed away, on February 1, 2016. Born on June 18, 1929, to F. Regis Cyphers and Inez Reiland Cyphers, Marilyn spent her childhood racing down the "slippy" brick streets of her Overbrook neighborhood on her red scooter. She attended St. Norbert School, and then St. Francis Academy in Castle Shannon, where she won many awards for her schoolwork. At St. Francis, she was a member of the Debate Team, was Editor of both the school's yearbook and ESEFAY, the school newspaper and wrote the majority of the skits performed by her class. She also organized War Bond Rallies at the school. Marilyn worked as a secretary at the Gulf Oil Corporation in Pittsburgh. In 1952, she married John J. Ryan, Jr., shortly after his graduation from Duquesne University. As an Air Force Officer's wife, Marilyn relocated several times with her husband, Jack and they finally settled in the seaside town of Madison, CT. There, they were longtime parishioners of St. Margaret Church. While raising six children, Marilyn was a freelance writer, and was published in several national magazines. She wrote a weekly column, "Backyard Fence" and then "The Beachcomber" for The New Haven Register. Her poignant essays of everyday life touched people, and she always made her readers laugh, except when she made them cry. Marilyn enjoyed genealogy and delighted in making discoveries in the history of her family, who settled in western Pennsylvania prior to the American Revolution. With her older brother, Regis Cyphers; and her nephew, James M. Cyphers, she was able to expand the memoir begun by her great-uncle, Brother Dominic (Richard Watts Noble) of St. Paul of the Cross Monastery. Tracing her roots back to Charlemagne was a high point. Marilyn also confirmed the family legend that they were related to Daniel Boone, and to Julia Dent, the wife of President Ulysses S. Grant. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Founding Families of Maryland. Marilyn was predeceased by her husband of almost 59 years; by her infant son, Kevin Patrick Ryan; and by her five siblings, Joan Cyphers Coogan, Kathleen Cyphers, Regis Cyphers, Inez Cyphers Maiden and James A. Cyphers. Marilyn is survived by her six children and their spouses, Susan and Richard Sylvester, Timothy Ryan, Lynn and David Ginter, Karen and Timothy Green, Maureen and Anthony LaBoa and John and Ellen Ryan. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret R.C. Church, 29 Academy St., Madison, CT on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow Mass in St. Lawrence Cemetery, 280 Derby Ave., West Haven, CT. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit: GuilfordFuneraIHome.com Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb