Ridley died Sept. 4, 2011, in Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
He was born in New York City and lived there his whole life. He prepared for Princeton via Horace Mann School and Los Alamos (N.M.) School.
At Princeton he majored in politics and was involved in the skiing, bowling, tennis, and track teams. He was a member of Terrace Club, Whig-Clio, and the Chapel Choir.
During World War II, Ridley served on the staff of Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold. He received many awards, including the Commander of the French Legion of Honor, the Order of the British Empire, Knights of the Order of St. John, and the U.S. Legion of Merit. Ridley continued in the Air Force Reserve, separating as a colonel.
After graduating from New York University School of Law in 1947, he joined the family firm of Finch & Schaefler and was active as a partner until his death. In 1972, Ridley was special ambassador to Panama, and in 1982 he was a member of the U.S. delegation to Unispace. He served on the board of the New York Institute for Special Education and several other organizations.
Ridley was predeceased by his second wife, Pauline Swayze Finch, to whom he was married for 26 years. He is survived by his first wife, Elizabeth Johnson Finch; his daughter, Elizabeth Lathrop Finch; sons Edward III ’75 and Maturin Delafield Finch ’77; and seven grandchildren.