Chancellor Kenneth Ryder, who began his Northeastern career in a small office in the YMCA, was honored by the university in May on his eightieth birthday—in his fifty-fifth year as a member of the university family.

Ryder, who served as president from 1975 through 1989, was lauded by his successors and other university officials as the architect of, in President Freeland’s words, “a deeper and a gentler Northeastern.”

Paying tribute to Ryder before a crowd in the Raytheon Amphitheater were president emeritus John Curry, LA’56, MEd’60, H’96; trustee chair Neal Finnegan, BA’61, H’98; and trustee chair emeritus George Matthews, B’56, H’86.
Freeland also praised Ryder for “connecting Northeastern to the broader international community.”

Curry recalled Ryder’s years as a history professor, when undergraduates dubbed him “Easy Ryder” for his smooth lecture style and the “joyous ride” he provided for students.

And Finnegan applauded Ryder for doing “what none of our other presidents have been able to do—win the Beanpot.”

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