By News Staff
Kenneth G. Ryder, who served as president of Northeastern University from 1975 until 1989, died earlier this week. His passing was announced in an email from President Joseph E. Aoun on Tuesday afternoon. The Huntington News will have more coverage of Ryder’s passing in the days ahead. Below is the full text of Aoun’s email.
I write to inform all members of our community that former Northeastern President Kenneth G. Ryder passed away earlier this week. Ken Ryder served as President of Northeastern University for 14 years, from 1975 to 1989.
Ken began his career as an instructor in history at Northeastern in 1949, progressing through the professorial ranks to Associate Professor. In 1958, he was appointed Dean of Administration and then Vice President for University administration in 1967. Prior to his election as President, Ken was Northeastern’s Executive Vice President under President Asa Knowles.
Much of the success we have today began under President Ryder’s leadership. During his tenure, the university’s College of Computer Science was founded and Northeastern acquired the Graduate School of Nursing from Boston University. President Ryder also established the Marine Science Center in Nahant and founded the Center for the Study of Sport in Society and the Executive MBA program.
In 1977, he was among the first educators to lead a delegation of faculty and university leaders to China, and established collaborative and exchange programs with Chinese colleges and universities which remain in place today. Following decades of discussion, President Ryder secured the funding and broke ground in 1987 for the Snell Library, providing the Northeastern community with state-of-the-art academic resources.
President Ryder fostered numerous community programs including the Balfour Academy and valuable partnerships with the Boston Public Schools and the Roxbury and Mission Hill communities.
A graduate of Boston University and Harvard, Ken received honorary degrees from a number of institutions, including the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University. He served in the Pacific Theater and China during World War II as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy. He was born in Brockton, Mass.
Following his retirement as President, Ken remained a member of the Board of Trustees from 1989 – 1996 at which time he was elected Trustee Emeritus.
Ken is survived by his children Anne Ryder Wilson, Jeanne Ryder, Bruce Ryder, Amy Ryder Pickel and Julie Ryder Lammers, and several grandchildren.
Sincerely,
Joseph E. Aoun
