Bernard Herman Ridder Jr. ’38

Bernie died at his home in San Mateo, Calif., on Oct. 10, 2002. He was born in NYC, where the Ridder family interest in newspapers began in 1885.

Bernie came to Princeton from Canterbury School. He majored in history, captained the squash team, and was twice runner-up in the National Intercollegiate Squash Championships.

After graduation he worked for the family's NY Journal of Commerce, and in 1939 he married Jane Delano, a niece of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt. During WWII he was a gunnery officer aboard the carrier USS Bunker Hill, earning nine battle stars. Postwar he served as publisher of four papers in Duluth and St. Paul, taking Ridder Publications public in 1969. As president and CEO, he presided over the 1974 expansion merger of Ridder Publications with Knight Newspapers, the combination of which then had the largest daily circulation in the US.

Bernie was a fine golfer and was on the executive committee of the USGA. He also served on the board of the Minnesota Vikings football team.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Jane; his brother, Daniel; two sons; three daughters; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren, to all of whom the class extends its deep sympathy.

The Class of 1938