Mark Ryan, founder of Daughters & Ryan and owner of L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company in Convent, Louisiana, passed away on May 5, 2025 at the age of 69.
Many in the premium tobacco industry remember Ryan as a fixture in the pipe tobacco category. Daughters & Ryan (D&R), was founded in 1992. Over the course of the 28 years that Ryan operated the company, it became known for its quality leaf and premium pipe tobacco blends that ranged from mellow to strong flavors. In 2005, Ryan purchased L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company in Convent, Louisiana. For the two decades that he was owner of L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company, Ryan became a champion of perique tobacco and preserving its legacy within the premium tobacco industry. He was also a longtime member of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and exhibitor at its annual trade show.
Services for Ryan were held on May 10, 2025 in Selma, North Carolina. He is survived by his partner, Emily; his daughter Patricia and son-in-law Adam; his daughter Rebecca and son-in-law, Anil; and his grandchildren, Caleb, Amelia, and Rishi. The family has asked that memorial donation be made to either the Partnership for Children of Johnston County or Friends of Tobacco Farm Life Museum.
To read Mark Ryan’s full obituary, click here.