James L Rieder

Jim was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana where he was a member of the 1953 South Bend Central State Championship High School basketball team, and part of the inspiration for the movie “Hoosiers”. Jim graduated from University of Michigan with a degree in Zoology, was a dedicated member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and met his beloved wife of 60 years, Mary K. Rieder. Go Blue!

Jim was drafted and served in the U.S. Army for two years, including one year in Korea, and four years in the Army Reserves. Following his service and during his membership in the reserves, he earned an MBA in Healthcare Administration from the Johnson School of Administration at Cornell University, beginning his long professional career managing hospitals and medical centers across the country. Jim and Mary, a registered nurse with her Bachelor of Science from University of Michigan, married on September 1st, 1962 and welcomed their first child, Christopher, in 1963.

At the beginning of his career at Springfield Hospital in Springfield, MA, Jim and Mary welcomed daughters Cathy and Mary Beth, then moved west to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, where daughter Joanna was born. Jim worked his way to the role of CEO at Kaiser and became the youngest hospital CEO in the country at that time. In 1977, the family moved back east to Stamford, CT, for Jim to take on the role as President and CEO of Stamford Hospital. Jim continued his career as CEO of hospitals including Arlington Hospital in VA, Michael Reese in Chicago, and others in Trenton, NJ, Detroit, MI, and Columbus, OH, always with his supporting family in tow, until he retired around 2003. During and after his distinguished career, Jim was an active member of the Rotary Foundation, Chairman of Fundraising for the United Way in Arlington, VA, a Life Fellow of American College of Hospital Executives, and Chairman of the ZERO Prostate Cancer organization.

After retiring and choosing to settle in Powell, OH, where he and Mary became 25 year members of the Columbus Zoo, Jim turned his attention back to animals by volunteering at the Ohio Wildlife Center. Jim thoroughly enjoyed the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife ranging from large owls to small bats to baby deer. He also continued his lifelong love of woodworking and antique furniture refinishing, and hand-crafting doll houses for his grandkids, each completely unique and gifted with a plaque from Grandpa. Jim also crafted doll houses that were donated and auctioned off for charity.

Throughout his life, Jim was a great athlete and enjoyed playing many sports, excelling at basketball, skiing, tennis, sailboat racing, waterskiing, and golf. He was a past member of the Washington Golf and Country Club, and a current member of the Columbus Men’s Golf Club, also playing many rounds with the Men’s Club of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell, OH.

Jim was a talented pianist and bass singer, becoming perhaps the first University of Michigan Wolverine to be a member of the Singing Buckeyes Barbershop Chorus, performing in many singing competitions and delighting the crowds for over 20 years.

Jim was also an antique car enthusiast. His pride and joy was his 1963 Mark X Jaguar, acquired from his aunt in the early 1980s with 12,000 miles. The Jag won dozens of awards at antique car shows year after year, always a big fan favorite, and was featured in various Jaguar magazines. Jim was a current member of the Jaguar Association of Central Ohio, and his classy car was always on display with champagne flutes and a photo book detailing its history, including pictures of each daughter being escorted in the Jag on their wedding day.

Loved by his family, Jim treasured spending time with and for his grandkids, digging for seashells, playing games, doing puzzles, watching mysteries, and giving sage advice. He had amazing stories ranging from trapping skunks under the barracks at Ft. Huachuca using french toast, to painting all the seats at Notre Dame’s famous football stadium as a teen summer job, to cruising the international seas in style and elegance on Crystal Cruises. Jim was a true people person, always up for a chat with anyone, and connected easily with everyone he met. He was a caring, devoted, and cherished father, Grandpa, husband, professional, and friend.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary, and his four children, Chris, Cathy, Mary Beth (John), and Joanna (Giles) and his grandchildren Andrew, Sabrina, Annie, Ashley, Alaina, Ethan, Nicholas, Sydney, Brogan, Matthew, Christopher, Leo and Dominic. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Esther, and his brother, Bill.

The family is grateful for the wonderful care of the many doctors and nurses at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) and the National Church Residences Hospice.

A visitation will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, August 26th, at St. Joan of Arc Church, 10700 Liberty Road in Powell, OH, with funeral mass at 11:30am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Steps for Sarcoma by going to www.stepsforsarcomaevent.com..