Dr. Kenneth Gilmore Ryder
Dr. Kenneth Gilmore Ryder, former President and Chancellor, Northeastern University, 1975-2004, of Brookline and Hingham, formerly of Lexington, October 29, 2012. US Navy veteran, World War II. Husband of the late C. Teresa (Ryan) Ryder. Devoted father of Anne R. Wilson and her husband Bob of Wakefield, Jeanne Ryder of NY, Bruce Ryder and his wife Maura of Millis, Amy C. Pickel and her husband Jeff of Plymouth and Julie M. Lammers and her husband Brendan of Milton. Grandfather of Mark Wilson, Michelle Ryder, Daniel Ryder, Julia Pickel and Brian Pickel. Former husband of the late Patricia(Gagnon) Ryder. Funeral service at Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church, 112 Randolph Avenue, Milton, Saturday November 3 at 2:00 PM. Visiting hours at Dolan & Chapman Funeral Home, 5 Canton Ave., MILTON VILLAGE, Friday 4-8 PM. Interment Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne will be private. In lieu of flowers contributions in Ken’s name may be sent to Northeastern University, Kenneth G. and C. Teresa Ryder Scholarship Fund, c/o Charlotte A Troyanowski, 716 Columbus Ave, 402CP, Boston, MA 02120-2111.
Guestbook Entries
I had the pleasure and privilege of caring for Ken for the past several years at Belmont Manor. ( CNA 11-7 shift)..During that time I grew very fond of him and his gentle personality and witty sense of humor. ..
Even tho we are not supposed to choose favorite patients, I could not help but consider him one of my dearest and favorite. Id like to share one sweet memory I have of him:
I had been away from work, on vacation for 2 weeks and when I returned and went into his room to help him, he looked right at me and said, ” You were gone for such a very long time” This showed that he had missed me and it touched me greatly to know that I meant alot to him as well 🙂
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you, his friends and loved ones during this time..Ken was surely one of a kind and I will miss him dearly.
I am so sorry to the whole Ryder family. What a year. I will always smile thinking of your dad driving us to school and talking to Molly Malone.
My heatfelt condolences to Ken’s family and his close relatives and friends. I had the privilege of knowing Ken as the recipient of a scholarship for his academic excellence at BrocktonHigh School.
Years later, I had the occasion to meet Ken at various University functions. Invariably he would repeat his appreciation of the Brockton University Club Scholarship that started him on his long lasting and brilliant career in higher education.
May he rest in eternal peace,
I’m sad to hear of Ken’s passing. He was the best classroom teacher I ever had. It was 1953 in a course called “Recent European History.” During the course, Stalin died. Ken put the syllabus aside and taught us around this news event. He showed us why Kruschev would be the next in power–while the national news were predicting others, not even knowing who Kruschev was. I still have my notes from that class. While I was happy for him when he was appointed President, I felt sorry for the students who would never have him as a classroom teacher. So…go gently, my teacher. I’ll see you later in that great classroom in the sky. This time, I’ll be sitting in the first row.
Saddened to hear of President Ryder’s passing, as well as Terry’s. I knew them well, as I spent close to 20 years working and studying at Northeastern. One summer, Ken made something happen for me that was truly marvelous. He wrote me a recommendation to Oxford University that resulted in my gaining research access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library in the summer of 1989. My husband and I rented a house in Oxford for a month, and it was because of Ken’s generosity that our sojourn was so remarkable, with walks into town, fascinating hours at the library, visits from friends, and trips into London.
Back on Huntington Avenue, both Ken and Terry were transforming the campus and making it bloom. My sincere sympathies to the extended Ryder and Ryan families.
Ann Gordon Carlson, BA65, MA72
I love you Papa, Thank you for being such an inspiration to our whole family. Especially my father (Bruce), who looked up to you very much. I will miss visiting you and asking you about your activities that you had been participating in. Many people are so grateful for all the opportunities you gave them, as well as all the time and effort you put into Northeastern University. Thank you for making my want to be princess dreams and fantasies come true while at a young age venturing to “Nanny and Papa’s Castle”. I love you and you will always be in my heart.