Tim Ryan

official U.S. Congress photo of Tim Ryan c. 2010

Birth Name: Timothy John Ryan

Place of Birth: Niles, Ohio, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 16, 1973

Ethnicity:
*father – German, Swiss-German, English, Irish, Scottish, distant Dutch
*mother – Italian

Tim Ryan is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio, from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2023.

He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 2020.

Tim is the son of Rochelle Maria (Rizzi) and Allen Leroy Ryan. He is married to teacher Andrea Zetts, with whom he has a son.

Tim’s paternal grandfather was Charles Clifford Ryan, Jr. (the son of Charles Edward Ryan and Mildred Irene Brobst). Tim’s grandfather Charles was born in Ohio. Tim’s great-grandfather Charles was the son of Edward Everett Ryan and Eliza Jane Johnston. Mildred was the daughter of Horace D. Brobst and Irene/Irena Clay.

Tim’s paternal grandmother was Betty Ilene Parr (the daughter of Harry Hiner Parr and Florence Marie Laser). Betty was born in Ohio. Harry was the son of Detroit Hiner Parr and Rebecca Darling. Florence was the daughter of Leroy/Ray/Roy Earl/J. Laser and Bertie May Shade.

Tim’s maternal grandfather was John Dominick/Dominic Rizzi (the son of Nick/Nicholas Rizzi and Rachel Marsico). John was born in Ohio, to Italian parents, from Basilicata. Nick was born in Colobraro. Rachel was born in Potenza.

Tim’s maternal grandmother was Anne/Ann/Anna Maria/Marie Guerra (the daughter of Domenick/Dominic Guerra and Maria/Mary Fagnano/Fanogio). Anne was born in Ohio, to Italian parents. Maria was born in Valsinni, Basilicata.

Three people of significant Italian heritage have won a caucus, primary, and/or nominating ballot for a major American party’s Presidential nomination. The three are:
*Al Smith (who was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 1928, and was also a candidate for the 1920, 1924, and 1932 Democratic nominations for President: in 1928, he won 12 contests; in 1932, he won 4 contests; Smith’s paternal grandfather was Italian)
*Michael DiSalle (1960; Democratic; won 1 state, Ohio)
*Rick Santorum (Republican; ran in 2012 and 2016: in 2012, he won 11 contests; Santorum is of three quarters Italian descent)

Ted Cruz, whose maternal great-grandfather was Italian, won 11 contests in the 2016 Republican Party primaries.

Other people of significant Italian heritage who have mounted plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States are:
*John A. Volpe (who sought the 1968 Republican nomination)
*James Traficant (who sought the 1988 Democratic nomination; Traficant’s father was of Italian descent)
*Rudy Giuliani (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*Tom Tancredo (who sought the 2008 Republican nomination)
*George Pataki (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Pataki’s maternal grandfather was Italian)
*Chris Christie (who sought the 2016 and 2020 Republican nominations; Christie’s mother was of Italian descent)
*Richard Ojeda (who sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; Ojeda’s mother is of at least three quarters Italian descent)
*Bill de Blasio (who sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; de Blasio’s mother was of Italian descent)
*Ron DeSantis (who sought the 2024 Republican nomination)

Geraldine Ferraro, who was of Italian descent, was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1984.

Sources: Marriage record of Tim’s paternal great-grandparents, Harry Hiner Parr and Florence Marie Laser – https://www.familysearch.org

Tim’s paternal great-grandfather, Harry Hiner Parr, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Tim’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Detroit Hiner Parr and Rebecca Darling – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage record of Tim’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Detroit Hiner Parr, to Erma/Irnia Mae Crum/Corum – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Tim Ryan (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com