Bernard Ryan Cleary

Bernard Ryan Cleary, 91, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024, in his home surrounded by his family. Bernard was a retired Chief Photographer’s Mate in the U S Navy and resided in Metairie, Louisiana. He is the husband of Laura Hurley Cleary (65 years), and they are the parents of Patricia (Mark) Breeden, MD of Winchester, KY, Christian (Donna) Cleary of Prairieville, LA, Robert (Carol Steinkamp) Cleary of New Orleans, LA, Theresa (Walt) Oleski of Steamboat Springs, CO, Joseph (Marie) Cleary of Kenner, LA, Janet Cleary of Lafayette, CO, and David (Greta) Cleary of College Station, TX. They have 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Born in Rochester, NY and raised in nearby Victor, NY by his aunt, Theresa Ryan, after the death of his mother. Bernard was the youngest of the eight children of the late John and Mary Ryan Cleary.

In 1952, during the Korean War, he joined the U S Navy, where he trained and served as a Photographer’s Mate at the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland and a Heavy Attack Squadron in Florida. His duties included service aboard four aircraft carriers. He ended his active duty as Photographer’s Mate First Class, leaving to use the GI Bill to attend St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. There, he met his wife, Laura. He re-affiliated with the US Naval Reserve and advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 1961. He retired with over 40 years of service.

His assignments while on annual active duty included the commissioning of NTC Orlando, the return of Vietnam POWs to San Diego, and a four-time instructor in Photojournalism at the Reserve Component Phase of the Defense Information School (DINFOS).

After college and working on a small Texas daily newspaper, he was hired by the UPI Austin news photo bureau. During his five years in Austin, he twice won the 1st place state award for news photography. He transferred to the UPI New Orleans news photo bureau in 1967. During his career in New Orleans, he was a four-time 1st prize winner of the New Orleans Press Club award for news and feature photos in addition to other 1st place awards for his photos.

After 12 years of daily news work, he left to take over the photo operations at the New Orleans Naval Support Activity. He retired from the Civil Service in 1996 after providing thousands of officers and senior enlisted personnel with the crisp looking photos required for promotion packages. He also did significant documentation of the Navy’s growth in New Orleans in the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s from near dormant east and west bank to a vital hub of the Navy and Marine Corp Reserve administration.

While retired, he volunteered for and in 2001 became the Director of the Navy Retired Activities Office to provide information to military personnel.

He is a life member of the Fleet Reserve Association, the National Association of Naval Photography, and the National Press Photographers Association.

He has been a parishioner of St. Benilde Catholic Church in Metairie, Louisiana since 1967.

Visitation will be held Monday, September 16, 2024, from 9am – 11am at St. Benilde Catholic Church, 1801 Division Street, Metairie, LA 70001 with a memorial mass to follow at 11am.