John Ryan, 71, dean of Marshall Law School

When John Ryan arrived at the John Marshall Law School in 2001, the private school in Midtown was barely hanging on.

Two years earlier the American Bar Association had voted not to accredit the law school, in part because so few of its students ever passed the bar exam. Without accreditation, the school — which provides a low-cost education to working people — would have to close.

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John Ryan enjoyed helping law schools gain their accreditation, including John Marshall Law School in Midtown.

Mr. Ryan had just helped another law school gain accreditation, and in early 2005, he was able to tell students that — for the first time in its 73-year history — John Marshall Law School was fully accredited by the ABA.

Mr. Ryan, 71, died Oct. 23 at his home in Napa, Calif., of liver cancer. The body was cremated. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Inspiration Chapel, Napa Valley Memorial Park in Napa. Richard Pierce Funeral Services of Napa is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Ryan earned his law degree with honors from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in 1970 and received a master of laws from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1971. He began his career in legal education at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Calif., where he taught for 23 years and served as associate dean and acting dean.

In 1993, he was appointed founding dean of the Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, R.I. He guided the new school to full approval by the American Bar Association in 3 1/2 years, the shortest time possible.

Mr. Ryan found it very satisfying to help law schools, especially those that aimed to educate underserved populations, said his wife, Caren Ryan of Napa. When he was dean, most of the students at John Marshall Law School had to work full-time while pursuing their law degree, and about 40 percent were minorities.

“He was very dedicated to doing that kind of work,” she said.

The school was under pressure to become accredited because the Georgia Supreme Court had ruled in 1988 that graduates of unaccredited schools wouldn’t be allowed to take the state bar exam.

The couple lived in Atlanta until Mr. Ryan retired in 2006. Mrs. Ryan said Atlanta was one of their favorite cities.

“We loved Atlanta very much,” she said. “People are so friendly.”

When he wasn’t working, Mr. Ryan enjoyed reading books about history and playing with Gritz, a cocker spaniel the couple acquired while living in Atlanta.

Mr. Ryan served as chair of the ABA’s accreditation committee twice, 1986-88 and 1992-93. He also was a member of the board of trustees for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia until his retirement.

Other survivors include two sons, William Ryan of San Francisco and Sean Ryan of Stiges, Spain; a daughter, Colleen Adam of Elk Grove, Calif.; and five grandchildren.