In Memory

Don Ridge (Teacher)

Don Ridge (Teacher)

Don Ridge taught 20th Century History and Contemporary Problems.

Don E. Ridge (1930 - 2002)

Don E. Ridge was born January 16, 1930 and died December 6, 2002. Don Ridge was a native of the Seattle area, attending Frantz H. Coe Elementary and Queen Anne High School ('48). A lifelong "student", he attended both Central Washington State (then) College and the University of Washington, earning four degrees from the U.W.: B.A., Recreational Leadership; B.A., Health and Physical Education; B.A., Radio-Television; M.S., Health and Physical Education. He also participated in foreign study programs and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Don was an avid sports enthusiast and contributed significantly to amateur athletics in the greater Seattle area throughout his life. He played fastpitch softball (44 years), volunteered as an athletic trainer for area high school and semi-pro football teams (34 years), served as sports announcer for varsity football and basketball teams (32 years), and was a football official for high school football (26 years). He also enjoyed golf, acrobatic waterskiing, and played center for the semi-pro Seattle Ramblers football team for five years. One of his greatest achievements was publication of his book, Take a Lap in 1989, which chronicles the Ramblers' history under the leadership of Coach Don Sprinkle. Don served 26 months of active duty as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps, completing officers' training at Quantico, VA., and was stationed both in the U.S. and Asia. He dedicated his professional career to the field of teaching, serving as Senior High School instructor in California (Willow Glen H.S., 1962-63), Edmonds, WA. (Edmonds H.S., 1963-64), and Lynnwood, WA. (Meadowdale H.S., 1964-1994). Although his primary area of specialty was history, he also taught many other subjects and served in numerous leadership positions during his tenure, including senior class advisor, commencement director, and yearbook advisor. Don is survived by his mother, Adele; wife Marilyn; daughters Linda Ridge Dao (Tho), Susan Pence, and Robin Horngren (David), all of the Seattle area; brother David (Alberta) of Pueblo, Colorado; 10.5 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; plus legions of former students and sportsfans everywhere.



 
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06/08/14 09:01 PM #1    

Mike Buchmeier

Don Ridge was a real enigma in the eyes of a smartalec senior. He had this silent, intense stare that could freeze one in mid sentence, yet once engaged he was a really helpful and committed teacher and coach. I had his classes, and during the heat of the vietnam war he was the only teacher that I had who could actively and objectively explain why we were there. Best wishes to Don's family, He was a great teacher at a time when we needed him to interpret what was happening in the world around us.

There's a nice photo of Don in his Marine corps uniform at <http://www.gnfafootball.org/DonRidge.htm>


06/09/14 07:58 AM #2    

John Hassell

Mr. Ridge was my favorite teacher at Meadowdale. He was tough enough to get a lazy turd like me to do the work, yet understood how difficult school could be for an adolescent that didn;'t "see the point"! I joined the Marines after college at Central, mostly hoping to become more like Mr. Ridge. He was a real inspiration for me.


06/23/14 03:22 PM #3    

Teri Williams

On the humorous side, he was tough in class.  I think we were all afraid of him.  His Marine hair cut only made him seem more intimidating like my Air Force sargeant Dad.  One day he had his feet on the desk and was leaning back kind of cocky and the chair slipped out from under him.  He hit the back of his head on the chalk tray and went down for the count disappearing behind his desk.  Oh, my.  We all tried to suppress our laughs but couldn't.  It was just such great timing.  A laugh that isn't suppose to be is sometimes the best.  God bless Mr. Ridge


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