LOS GATOS, Calif.—Funeral services will be held here on Monday for Kevin J. Ryan, 75. Ryan, the former chairman and CEO of Wesley-Jessen, was a long-time and influential contact lens industry executive.

Ryan started in the soft contact lens business in 1978 as president of the Barnes Hind division of Revlon and introduced extended wear lenses to the market. He served as president and group president of Revlon’s eyecare division throughout the 1980s, leaving the company after it was acquired by Pilkington.

Ryan was president of Biosource Technologies, Inc., a bio-pharmaceutical company, from 1991 to 1995.

In 1995, after Wesley Jessen was acquired by Bain Capital, Ryan became president, CEO and chairman. In 1996, he oversaw the acquisition of Pilkington’s Barnes Hind contact lens division. Ryan refocused and expanded the company’s colored contacts lens business. In 2001, Ryan presided over the sale of Wesley Jessen to CIBA Vision (now Novartis), creating the world’s second-largest contact lens company at the time.

Thomas Steiner, now an industry consultant and former vice president of marketing at W-J, who worked with Ryan for many years, noted, “Anyone who worked with Kevin will never forget the experience. He was a highly competent chief executive, an inspirational leader and a compassionate man who helped people succeed."

According to information from his family, Ryan was born in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1940. He met his wife, Nancy, when they were 13 years old. They had a loving and happy marriage that resulted in five children and 16 grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, Sept.27 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm with the Rosary being held at 7:00 pm at Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills, 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, Calif. 95030. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Sept. 28 at 11:00 am at St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception, 219 N. Bean Ave., Los Gatos, Calif.

The family suggests that donations be made to: Maryville Academy, 1150 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016 or to
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara Co., 2625 Zanker Rd., San Jose, Calif. 95134-2107.