Bruce Douglas Ryan, assistant curator of the ASU Lichen Herbarium, dedicated the last months of his life to research for the University.
Ryan and his work will be remembered in a memorial service held at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Baha'i Information Center in Tempe, 903 E. Spence Ave.
Ryan died of cancer on Jan. 22. He was 53.
The ASU Lichen Herbarium is a geographic library of lichen specimens. Lichens are fungus and algae existing in symbiosis.
Ryan's main focus at the herbarium was the Sonoran Desert Lichen Project. He and his colleagues were trying to write an account of all lichen species in the entire Greater Sonoran Desert Region, including large parts of Southern California and all of Arizona.
"He contributed an awful lot to this project," said Frank Bungartz, a graduate student who worked with Ryan.
Since Ryan's death, Bungartz said he has received e-mails from all over the world from people who worked with him.
Bungartz said work sustained Ryan in his last days.
"In the last few months, he was extremely cheerful," Bungartz said. "He probably foresaw that he was going to die, and I think it productively lifted some of his work."
Up until about four years ago, Ryan was out in the field several times a year studying and collecting specimens. He also reviewed and authored many manuscripts.
"He was very well known in the taxonomic world," Bungartz said.
Ryan's sense of humor also made him a bit of a legend.
"He was a very funny guy, in a somewhat offbeat sense," said Thomas Nash, a professor in the School of Life Sciences.
Ryan wrote what he called "Bruce News," short stories and anecdotes that he would distribute to friends. Nash described the writings as a hilarious takeoff on everyday living.
Ryan was diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. After surgery, he was recovering well until doctors found cancer in his liver last August.
Ryan overcame alcoholism five years ago. He also was highly involved in the Baha'i faith. The faith's followers believe that humanity is one race and should be unified.
Reach this reporter at timothy.taylor@asu.edu.
