Terry "Tuff" Ryan (July 14, 1946 – May 16, 2007) was an American writer, originally from Defiance, Ohio, who resided in San Francisco for most of her adult life.
She was best known for her memoir The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, published in 2001, and subsequent film adaptation released in 2005.
She was born to Leo (nicknamed Kelly) and Evelyn Ryan, and was the sixth of 10 children.
With artist Sylvia Mollick, Ryan was also the co-creator of the long-running cartoon T. O. Sylvester in the San Francisco Chronicle.
She was married to her long-time partner, Pat Holt, by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom on St Valentine's Day 2004.