Builder/developer Howard Thomas Ryan Jr. (1921-1995) laid out a tract here in 1960 and anointed five streets with unusual monikers inspired by his family. Carard Street combines the “-ard” from Howard with the “Car-” from Carolyn, his wife (née Louise Carolyn Ostin, 1921-2005). Howard was born in Alabama and raised in Oakland; Carolyn was a native Angeleno. They met at UC Berkeley and tied the knot there in 1942 – a year before Howard, a civil engineer by training, went off to serve in WWII. They divorced in 1984. Thomicia Place blends the names of the couple’s oldest kids Thomas and Patricia, a.k.a. Tom and Patti. Nomar Street inverts the name of third child Ramon. Larryan Drive is a portmanteau of “Larry” and “Ryan” and refers to the Ryans’ youngest son. Finally, the “Ram-” in Ramara Avenue comes from Ramon “R.J.” Blanco, Howard’s uncle and business partner, and the “-ara” comes from R.J.’s wife Clara – Howard’s maternal aunt (née Hayter).
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