Richard Patrick Lisle

Celebration of an Irish Life: Richard Patrick Lisle [September 13, 1940-August 26, 2022] Richard Patrick Lisle left this world on August 26, 2022, to be with God and his parents and friends who have gone before him. Richard was a 1959 graduate of Father Ryan and one in a long line of exceptional academics and athletes produced by his parents, Ben and Katherine. Richard was the fourth of sixteen children, all of whom graduated from either Father Ryan (FR) or St. Bernard Academy(SBA): Ben, Jr. (FR-’52)[Zeneda]; Ann Casey (SBA)[Ed]; Jim (FR-‘56)[RoseAnne]; Richard(FR-‘59); Kathleen Rankin(SBA)[Mike]; Johnny(FR-‘61); Frank(FR-’63)[Faye]; Billy(FR-’64)[Patsy]; Bobby(FR-’65)[Dona]; Charlie(FR-’66); Lawrence(FR-’69)[Beth]; Jean Pennington(SBA)[Jefferson-deceased]; Therese Arbuckle(SBA)[Joe-deceased]; Joan(FR-’72); Michael(FR-’73)[Jane] and Mary Jane Scruggs(FR-’75)[Mark]. Richard held multiple degrees and his career focused on the early stages and development of computer science while working with NASA and various other government agencies. Richard was a devout Catholic who attended St. Henry Church. He was loyal to his family and was always there for them when needed. Richard’s parents, Ben and Katherine, as well as his brothers, Ben, Jr., Johnny, and Billy have preceded him in death. He is survived by his other siblings and their spouses as well as countless other nieces and nephews and their children. Richard will be remembered as part of a legacy of Ryan athletes which was stated best by his father in an interview with Jimmy Davy of The Nashville Tennessean on August 29, 1965 in an article that introduced his younger brother, Charlie, as the next Father Ryan football star: For over a decade there has been a Lisle suited up when the Irish opened the season, and it will be no different Saturday night when Ryan takes the field in Louisville against tough Flaget. The starting fullback will be announced as Charlie Lisle. Charlie is a rangy 145-pound senior who hopes to carry on the family tradition started in 1955 by a half backing brother named Richard. “Richard was a freshman when I came to Ryan as a coach in 1955,” Irish head man Louis Catignani said yesterday. “Since that time there has been a member of the family on every team and sometimes as many as three at a time.” Confirming this statement was Ben J. Lisle, the father of 10 boys and 6 girls, who has to hesitate a moment when he lists his boys in sequence. “That’s right, Richard was the first one and Lawrence will be over at Ryan this Fall as a freshman football manager,” the elder Lisle said. The last boy is Mike, who is now in the fourth grade at Christ the King,” he went on. “When Mike graduates, we will have had a boy in Ryan for an unbroken string of 25 years.” The football players after Richard played halfback were Johnny, a halfback on the 1961 Clinic Bowl team; an end named Frankie; and Billy, a starting fullback on the 1963 Clinic Bowl aggregation. (When Ryan admitted girls in 1971, Joan and Mary Jane extended the Lisle presence at Ryan to 27 years). Richard was 100% Irish, and his leadership, affection and loyalty will be missed not only by his family but by the entire Irish nation. Visitation will be at St. Henry Church on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 10 am followed by a funeral mass at 11 am. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery on Lebanon Road. Memorial Contributions may be made to: St. Henry Church.