Veteran, 85, Comes Out In His Own Obituary

A military veteran from upstate New York revealed in his own obituary that he was gay after keeping his sexuality under wraps his whole life.

Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, who died at age 85 on June 1, wrote that he “just could not” come out as gay when he was alive after “seeing how people like me were treated.”

“I was afraid of being ostracized,” he said.

“Now that my secret is known, I’ll forever Rest in Peace,” Ryan concluded the obituary published in the Albany Times-Union on June 8.

The obituary was penned by Ryan’s niece, Linda Sargent.

It listed accomplishments from Ryan’s decorated military career, when being gay could mean a dishonorable discharge, his later service as a firefighter, his work with the American Legion and his founding and co-owning of local radio station WHRL-FM.

It also included the message that Ryan wrote before he died.

The note read in full:

Ryan’s obituary has since gone viral on social media, with multiple commenters expressing their sadness that he couldn’t be his true self when he was alive.

Sargent told “Good Morning America” that the worldwide attention his message has received was a “salute” for her uncle who had potentially opened “doors for other people.”

She added, “Hopefully, he’s at peace.”