Carolyn Ryan

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Carolyn Ann Ryan passed away in Maryland. Born to John Dominic Santoro and Anne Raphael Marie Santoro (née DeGeorge) on Wednesday, April 4, 1951, she was 74.

Carolyn is survived by her daughters, Christina Butler (Patrick) and Tara Ryan; her sister, Eleanor Sandler (Joe); her grandchildren, Katie Butler and Declan Butler; and her nieces and nephews, Angela, Mike, Pat, Danny, Annie, and Michael.

In addition to her parents, Carolyn was preceded in death by her brother, John Santoro.

Carolyn passed away surrounded by love, leaving behind a life full of family, friendship, and joy. Born in Washington, DC, she grew up in a neighborhood full of family, playing and growing up alongside her cousins, building bonds that lasted a lifetime and shaped her deep love for family and community.

Carolyn was a devoted mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Nothing made her happier than cheering at her grandchildren’s games, always their biggest supporter in the stands. She was easy-going and flexible, happy to go with the flow and enjoy whatever the moment brought. She was also loyal to her core, shown through her 38 years with the Federal Aviation Administration, where she was proud of her work and the people she worked with.

She was known as the biggest Washington Capitals fan, loved a good glass of red wine, adored her dog, and never missed a chance to travel with family and friends. Carolyn also loved shopping with her girls, Italian food, ice cream, and trips to the beach. Above all else, she will be remembered for her warmth, her kindness, and the way she made everyone around her feel loved and cared for. She will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church located at 63 Sacred Heart Ln, Glyndon, MD 21071 Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:30am. A gathering for family and friends following the service will be held at the Butler's home. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Carolyn may be directed to support Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Carolyn Ryan to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, P.O. Box 49143, Baltimore, MD 21297-9143 or make a gift online at hopkinscancer.org.