Terry Ryan (writer)

Terry "Tuff" Ryan (July 14 1946 – May 16 2007)was an American writer, originally from Defiance, Ohio, who had resided in San Francisco for most of her adult life. She was best known for her memoir "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio".

She was born to Leo (nicknamed Kelly) and Evelyn Ryan, and was the sixth of ten children.cite web |url=http://www.theprizewinner.com/terryryan.html |title=Who Is Terry Ryan? |accessdate=2007-05-27] "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" was a memoir of her life and that of her family, especially her mother, a 1950s housewife with 10 children who provided for the family by winning contests. The book was optioned by DreamWorks SKG and released as a theatrical film in November 2005. It starred Julianne Moore as Evelyn Ryan and Woody Harrelson as Kelly Ryan. Jane Anderson was director and screenwriter. Terry Ryan was a consultant on the film.

Ryan was also the creator of the long running cartoon "T.O. Sylvester" in the "San Francisco Chronicle". She was married to her long-time partner, Pat Holt, by San Francisco's then-Mayor, Gavin Newsom on St Valentine's Day 2004. Her account of her wedding, titled "We Do!", was published by Chronicle Books.cite web |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/17/BAGP0P3U2E115.DTL |title=Author Terry Ryan, 60, dies in S.F. home |first=Heidi |last=Benson |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2007-05-17 |accessdate=2007-05-27]

She graduated from Bowling Green State University.

In 2004, when the movie The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio was being filmed, Terry discovered that she had Stage IV brain cancer. On May 16, 2007, Terry died of cancer at her San Francisco, California home.

References