Leon E. Ryder

Born on a farm in Summit, New York on May 24, 1931 to Glenn L. and Marion Wilsey Ryder. He attended public school in Worcester, and Scotia, New York. He enlisted at the age of 17 and served his country in the United States Navy for over 30 years and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-4, S/W, DV). He was employed by Tracor Marine Company, Inc. and Bisso Marine Company, Inc. as a Salvage Master for 20 years. He successfully solved numerous maritime casualty problems in the commercial world and as a salvage services contractor for the United States Navy and Coast Guard.

Mr. Ryder passed away on May 27, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Hardy; daughter, Linda Ryder Dragas and her husband, Michael Armstrong; son, Glenn Charles Ryder and his wife, Mary Sprouse Ryder and stepson, Charlie Benjumea. Leon E. Ryder was predeceased by his wife, Raydene Theresa Edgar Ryder his spouse of over 47 years, his daughter, Nancy Ryder Harris and brother, Glenn Ryder.

He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, Markos William Dragas and his wife, Amy Marie Dragas and their children, Charleston Rose Dragas and Lily James Dragas; Louis William Dragas and his wife, Jennifer Lee Dragas and their children, Anthony Louis Dragas, Madison Anne Dragas, and Alexander Scott Dragas; Matthew Lee Dragas and his wife, Amy Rose Dragas; Nicole Gallier White and Brad White and their children, Avery Suzanne White, Cameryn Ryder White and Merrick Lee White; Cristin Dragas Atoms and her husband, Nicholas Dragas Atoms; Brenton Glenn Ryder, Barbour Dylan Ryder and his daughter, Eden Grace Ryder; Morgan Raydene Ryder and her betrothed, John Cuthbert Aspinwall IV; Reagan Dolores Ryder and her husband, Alexander Aron Gylfason and step-grandson, Manny Benjumea. As well as his sisters, Carol Ryder and Nancy Passel; brother-in-law, Roger Passel; sister-in-law, Joan Ryder; niece, Lisa Passel and nephew, Stephen Passel.

Leon E. Ryder was a lifetime member of several organizations: the Institute of Diving (500 club), the Retired Officers Association, the VFW, the Association of Fleet Tug sailors and TROA, the Navy League of Hampton Roads, National Officers Association, Marine Technology Society, FRA (Fleet Reserve Association), ADC (Association of Diving Contractors), the Knights of Pythias (K of P Number 10). Mr. Ryder was a docent volunteer at the Virginia Aquarium for over 20 years.

He was played on the big screen by Robert De Niro in the movie Men of Honor. He certified and reinstated Carl Brashear, the first Black Navy Diver and recovered 38 aircraft that were lost in bodies of water. In doing so, he was able to recover the bodies of deceased pilots so that their families were able to have closure. He also aided in the recovery of lost nuclear weapons at sea. He helped locate the wreck of the Titanic with Dr. Robert Ballard, recovered the wreckage of the crew capsule for the Space Shuttle Challenger and helped sink the tunnel section for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel during its construction. The capsule that contained pilot Gus Grissom during the splashdown of the Mercury-Redstone 4 began to fill with water and started to sink. In the rough 8-foot seas, Leon was able to get Gus Grissom on the rescue helicopter and saved the pilot’s life. During the Korean War, he commanded a landing craft and delivered men and material while under heavy direct enemy fire. His engineer was killed after dropping a ramp and delivering the troops. He then had to step into direct machine gun fire in order to engage the motor that raised the ramp. Otherwise, his craft would have floundered, and the rest of his crew would have perished. He received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal.