In Memory of
Richard Ronald
Ryder
Ryder
1932 - 2017
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Obituary for Richard Ronald Ryder
Richard R. Ryder of Connestee Falls, Brevard, NC died peacefully in his sleep on January 17th.
He is survived by his loving wife Joy of more than 60 years and their four children, their spouses and seven
grandchildren, son Gary Steven Ryder and wife Patricia of Auburn, New York; daughter Donna Lynn Pardue and husband David McMannamy of Connestee Falls, North Carolina; daughter Laura Denise Hennessey and husband Jay of Beverly
Shores, Indiana; son Ronald George Ryder and wife Donna of Owings, Maryland; and his seven grandchildren, Rebecca Ann Pardue, John Patrick Hennessey, Shannon Marie Hennessey, Connor Michael Hennessey, Ryan James Ryder, Jonathan
Michael Ryder, and Brandon Richard Ryder.
Dick was born in Albany NY in 1932. His family moved to Binghamton, NY in 1945 where he was active in sports at the Junior and High School levels. He met Joy in Junior High School in 1947. At graduation from Binghamton North High School Dick received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY Dick entered the School of Architecture and joined the Army ROTC. He was active in sports , was on the Lacrosse Team which won the NCAA championship in 1952,and was a member of Delta Tau Delta
Fraternity. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the
US Army and married Joy within four weeks. In the spring of 1957 Dick and Joy moved to Alexandria, VA where Dick was required to complete the six month Engineers Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, VA. Upon completion they moved to Albany, NY and then to Schenectady, NY where Dick joined the Headquarters Company of the 464th Engineer Battalion Reserve Unit. In 1960 the 464th was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and became the Company Commander of Headquarters Company.
Dick worked in the private practice of architecture in Albany, NY for seven years with the firm of Toole and Angerame as a designer. In 1964 he joined the New York State University Construction Fund where he was a Project Coordinator in charge of the design and construction of five University Colleges. He was promoted becoming a Project Director in charge of 12 Campuses and then again, becoming the Deputy General Manager in charge of the design and construction of all two and four year colleges in the University System with a budget of $900,000,000.00.
In 1972, after most of the University Construction work was completed, Dick and Joy and their four children and dog moved to Baldwinsville,NY where he went to work for the New York State Urban Development Corporation as Deputy General Manager in charge of the design and construction of Radisson, a new community in the suburbs of Syracuse, NY. Radisson was a planned community of 5,000, with a Town Center, Industrial Area, and amenities such as walk ways, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc. The community also included a Robert Trent Jones golf course which became one of the best courses in upstate NY. The first road was built in 1972 and Dick became the General Manager in 1978. After Radisson became a successful and well established New Community, he went back into private practice for several years. In 1986 he was hired by Syracuse University as their Assistant Director of Design and Construction to help in the expansion of new facilities and renovation of existing. Several of the new buildings received design awards from the American Institute of Architects.
After retirement in 1999, Dick and Joy did some travelling. Dick took lessons in watercolor painting and they continued their hobby of shell collecting. In 2005, because of the bad weather and most of their children moving, they purchased a home in Connestee Falls at Brevard, NC, with all their required amenities and where there is still four seasons but a lot less snow. They celebrated both their 50th and 60th Anniversaries while living in Connestee and Dick found a new hobby in the
construction of a G- Gauge Railroad. He also became more proficient in his watercolor painting and continued his shell
collecting until his death.
A ceremony celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 28th, at 11am at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 22 Fisher Road, Brevard, North Carolina. After the service the Church's Fellowship Group will provide a light lunch. In remembrance of Dick we will also have root beer, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Care Partners Hospice of Transylvania County, PO Box 21, Brevard, NC 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.
He is survived by his loving wife Joy of more than 60 years and their four children, their spouses and seven
grandchildren, son Gary Steven Ryder and wife Patricia of Auburn, New York; daughter Donna Lynn Pardue and husband David McMannamy of Connestee Falls, North Carolina; daughter Laura Denise Hennessey and husband Jay of Beverly
Shores, Indiana; son Ronald George Ryder and wife Donna of Owings, Maryland; and his seven grandchildren, Rebecca Ann Pardue, John Patrick Hennessey, Shannon Marie Hennessey, Connor Michael Hennessey, Ryan James Ryder, Jonathan
Michael Ryder, and Brandon Richard Ryder.
Dick was born in Albany NY in 1932. His family moved to Binghamton, NY in 1945 where he was active in sports at the Junior and High School levels. He met Joy in Junior High School in 1947. At graduation from Binghamton North High School Dick received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY Dick entered the School of Architecture and joined the Army ROTC. He was active in sports , was on the Lacrosse Team which won the NCAA championship in 1952,and was a member of Delta Tau Delta
Fraternity. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1956. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the
US Army and married Joy within four weeks. In the spring of 1957 Dick and Joy moved to Alexandria, VA where Dick was required to complete the six month Engineers Officer Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, VA. Upon completion they moved to Albany, NY and then to Schenectady, NY where Dick joined the Headquarters Company of the 464th Engineer Battalion Reserve Unit. In 1960 the 464th was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and became the Company Commander of Headquarters Company.
Dick worked in the private practice of architecture in Albany, NY for seven years with the firm of Toole and Angerame as a designer. In 1964 he joined the New York State University Construction Fund where he was a Project Coordinator in charge of the design and construction of five University Colleges. He was promoted becoming a Project Director in charge of 12 Campuses and then again, becoming the Deputy General Manager in charge of the design and construction of all two and four year colleges in the University System with a budget of $900,000,000.00.
In 1972, after most of the University Construction work was completed, Dick and Joy and their four children and dog moved to Baldwinsville,NY where he went to work for the New York State Urban Development Corporation as Deputy General Manager in charge of the design and construction of Radisson, a new community in the suburbs of Syracuse, NY. Radisson was a planned community of 5,000, with a Town Center, Industrial Area, and amenities such as walk ways, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc. The community also included a Robert Trent Jones golf course which became one of the best courses in upstate NY. The first road was built in 1972 and Dick became the General Manager in 1978. After Radisson became a successful and well established New Community, he went back into private practice for several years. In 1986 he was hired by Syracuse University as their Assistant Director of Design and Construction to help in the expansion of new facilities and renovation of existing. Several of the new buildings received design awards from the American Institute of Architects.
After retirement in 1999, Dick and Joy did some travelling. Dick took lessons in watercolor painting and they continued their hobby of shell collecting. In 2005, because of the bad weather and most of their children moving, they purchased a home in Connestee Falls at Brevard, NC, with all their required amenities and where there is still four seasons but a lot less snow. They celebrated both their 50th and 60th Anniversaries while living in Connestee and Dick found a new hobby in the
construction of a G- Gauge Railroad. He also became more proficient in his watercolor painting and continued his shell
collecting until his death.
A ceremony celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, January 28th, at 11am at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 22 Fisher Road, Brevard, North Carolina. After the service the Church's Fellowship Group will provide a light lunch. In remembrance of Dick we will also have root beer, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Care Partners Hospice of Transylvania County, PO Box 21, Brevard, NC 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Ronald Ryder, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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