University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Mourns Loss of Kathleen Ridder
4/5/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Media Clips: Star Tribune | Star Tribune Editorial | Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS - Kathleen C. Ridder, one of the University's most generous and ardent supporters of women's athletics and a lifelong philanthropist and advocate for equal rights, passed away earlier this week. She was 94 years old.
Ridder's name rings familiar with almost anyone who has walked along University Avenue in Minneapolis' Stadium Village neighborhood. She and her husband, Robert Ridder, Sr., made a significant contribution to support women's hockey at the U of M to help build the country's first women's-only collegiate hockey facility, Ridder Arena. Though her husband passed away before the arena opened in 2002, she was on-hand to drop the ceremonial first puck at the Gophers' first game in the facility. It has been home to Gopher Women's Hockey for the past 16 years, during which time the program has won 12 conference and six national titles. The arena has also hosted three NCAA Women's Frozen Fours, the Minnesota Girls State Hockey Tournament, countless youth and adult league games, as well as serving as a practice site for several NHL teams, men's college programs, and the IIHF Under-18 Worlds pre-tournament camp.
A New Yorker by birth, Ridder moved to Minnesota in the early 1940s with her husband and spent most of her adult life in her adopted home. She was a proud alumna of the University of Minnesota system, earning her teaching degree from Minnesota Duluth before moving to St. Paul.
A dedicated agent of social change, Ridder was an active volunteer, championing social causes throughout her six decades in Minnesota. Her focus was often turned toward causes that embraced equal rights for all people. Her commitment to fairness and equality made a difference in the lives of many as she lobbied at the local, state, and national levels for change throughout her life. She volunteered on a variety of boards and charities, including founding the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund and serving on the Minnesota Board of Human Rights. She chaired several women's athletic department committees as well, including the Advisory Council and the women's athletic scholarship endowment of the Minnesota Campaign. She served on the Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees and was an author, penning three books during her lifetime.
Ridder was also a gifted athlete who grew up in a time prior to Title IX legislation. Like many female athletes of her era, Ridder had a passion for ensuring that young women had access to athletic opportunities that she had been denied in her life.
That passion wasn't limited to her family's incredible contribution to construct Ridder Arena. She could be counted on to provide her opinion, her time, her mentorship, and financial contributions to almost any project that would benefit women student-athletes at the U of M. Beyond Ridder Arena, her legacy lives on through the Kathleen C. Ridder scholarship, which supports student-athletes pursuing medicine, science or math majors. The first-ever endowed scholarship for female student-athletes at Minnesota, the scholarship was established in 1983. The Kathleen C. and Robert B. Ridder Scholarship is annually awarded to a Gopher women's hockey student-athlete as well.
Ridder received numerous awards and special recognitions for her achievements championing women's athletics. She was inducted into the University's M Club Hall of Fame as a benefactor in the Class of 1990. She also received the prestigious 2004 Director's Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding generosity, service, and commitment to Gopher Athletics. In 2009, the American Hockey Coaches' Association honored Ridder and her late husband, Bob, as recipients of the Joe Burke Award, given annually to the person or persons who have given outstanding contribution, support, and dedication to women's ice hockey.
Ridder is survived by her four children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
What they're saying about Kathleen Ridder:
Brad Frost, University of Minnesota Women's Hockey Head Coach
"It's a sad day for Gopher women's hockey as we have lost a great friend and tremendous supporter of our program in Kathleen Ridder. Not only were she and her husband Bob instrumental in the building of Ridder Arena, but she was a champion of women's athletics and gave much of her time, energy, and life to advancing opportunities for women, especially in sports. Her impact on our program is immeasurable, and she will be greatly missed."
Laura Halldorson, University of Minnesota Women's Hockey Head Coach, 1997-2007
"Kathleen Ridder lived an incredible life, and she will be missed. She was someone who was passionate about providing women with opportunities, including opportunities in athletics. She put her passion into action through her advocacy, her tenacity, and her financial support. I'm thankful to have known this amazing woman and grateful for the impact she made on so many people, including me. Kathleen Ridder may be gone, but her legacy will live on."
Joel Maturi, University of Minnesota Athletics Director, 2002-2012
"It is a sad day for Gopher Athletics with the loss of Kathleen Ridder. When I arrived in 2002 after the decision of the merger of the women and men, Kathleen made it clear to me that she did not favor the merger as she feared that such a move would impact the women negatively. She was knowledgeable of Title IX, a strong advocate for all women and she and her husband, Bob, were generous with their time and resources to promote women. Fortunately, it is because of her and others that the merger was completed successfully. We had many talks and she concluded that our women's program could continue to succeed in a new structure and continued to help to make it happen. Few people were as passionate as Kathleen. She was a role model for many, including me."
Chris Voelz, University of Minnesota Women's Athletics Director, 1988-2004
"It was an honor to have had Kathleen play a role in bringing me to the university in 1988. She walked where others dare not go, and she made such a difference at every turn. Her fierce, relentless pursuit of justice was always an inspiration. She had purposeful passion and acted upon it. Kathleen spent the end of her life as she lived it -- setting examples for others; making decisions; following her intentions and following both her head and her heart. She had quite the run! Ninety four years of dedication, advocacy, generosity, and achievement. The women of Minnesota are significantly better because of Kathleen's generosity, commitment, and leadership."
Deborah Olson, long-time supporter of Gopher Women's Hockey
"Kathleen was a force of nature. Her work on behalf of women's athletics in the realm of equity in scholarships, facilities, and resources was unending. She said the women's hockey program brought her and her husband Bob's passions together, hockey and women's equality, and they both delighted in it. Her spirit and energy will live on in all the advocates and student-athletes she inspired. Though she is irreplaceable, we will continue to work on her causes to honor her and her work."
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