Jon K. Rider, ’62, ’63, a former Marine commander who changed careers and spent six years as executive director of the University of Washington Alumni Association, died Aug. 9 of pulmonary disease at his home in Kennewick. He was 70.

Born Jan. 9, 1940, in Seattle, Rider attended Roosevelt High School before matriculating at the UW. He served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War, earned two master’s degrees (one at Pepperdine University and another at the University of Maryland), and earned an advanced degree from the Naval War College.

After 27 years in the Marine Corps—where he was commander of the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton—he headed the UWAA from 1990 to 1996. He later worked as a consultant and training expert at the Pacific Northwest National Labs in Kennewick.

Despite his long career in the military, he was known as a gentle soul with a warm manner and easy laugh. As a tribute, his old Seattle rowing team, the Ancient Mariners, named its new rowing shell the Jon K. Rider.

Rider is survived by four daughters, his sister Carolyn, granddaughter Jordan, best friend Robin and former wife Ellen.

https://magazine.washington.edu/jon-k-rider-1940-2010/

Col. Jon K. RIDER, USMC (ret.) Col. Jon Kirk Rider, USMC (ret.), age 70, passed away peacefully at home in Kennewick, WA on August 9, 2010, surrounded by his daughters and best friend Robin Wood. Col. Rider was born in Seattle on January 9, 1940. He attended Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington, graduated with a BA in 1963, and was then commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. He was married to Ellen Koogle from 1965-1998 and had four children: Kathryn Jane, Amy Louise, Megan Caroline, and Kirk Michael. Col. Rider served three tours of duty during the course of the Vietnam War, including two as a rifle company commander, mortar, rifle and sniper platoon commander and Operations Officer at the battalion and regimental level. During his time in Vietnam, Col. Rider earned three Bronze Stars, a Combat Action Ribbon, and Presidential and Navy Unit Citations, among many others. Col. Rider also earned two master's degrees from Pepperdine University and University of Maryland, as well as an advanced degree from the Naval War College while he was serving in the Marine Corps. He served a total of 27 years in the USMC and retired 1990 at the end of his command of the School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, CA. He then held the position of the alumni director at the University of Washington for six years and was a consultant and coach at ProMega from 1997-2001. His most recent career was at Pacific Northwest National Labs, where he served as a training expert for the Protective Force team of the DOE Material Protection Control and Accounting Programs to upgrade security of Russian weapons-usable nuclear material and then as the manager for Russian Security Force Training. Some of his passions included rowing, coaching rowing, flying ultralights, running, storytelling, and was an avid reader and historian. He is survived by his four children, his sister Carolyn, granddaughter Jordan, best friend Robin and former wife Ellen.

www.legacy.com/seattletimes/jonrider

"Death needs courage. Courage is the power to confront a world that is not always fair. It is the willingness to accept what cannot be changed. Courage is loving life, even in the face of death. It is sharing our strength with others even when we feel weak. It is embracing our family and friends even when we fear to lose them. It is opening ourselves to love, even for the last time. Courage is self-esteem. It prefers quiet determination; it prefers doing. It affirms that exits, like entrances, have their own dignity." This statement is from Jon Rider's website