LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ryder was a GOP friend, too

Posted

To the editor:

(re: “John Ryder, political stalwart, dies at 90,” June 8)

I can only second the comments made about John Ryder in your recent article. He was everything that was said about him.

I have known John since the 1960s as a neighbor, friend and fellow political activist.

Before there was a Conservative Party, a Tea Party, and long before there was a Trump, there was in New York State a democratic — if you like, liberal — wing of the Republican Party, which elected among others the likes of Nelson Rockefeller, Malcolm Wilson, Jacob Javitz and Louis Lefowitz. There was also several active Republican clubs in Riverdale. Can you believe that?

There was even “reform” Republicans in the Bronx. 

One of the leaders of the reform element in the Republican Party in the Bronx was John Ryder. For years, he fought as a leader of the Riverdale Republican Club, the Bronx Republican County “machine,” then led by U.S. Rep. Paul Fino.

John sought reform that would make the party open to and be more respective to its members, and less controlled by the “bosses.” Most reforms had to do with appointment of poll watchers, the election of officers to party positions, etc. Very similar to what the local “reform” Democratic clubs were pushing at the time.

After many years and many fights, in and out of court, some progress and reform was accomplished. Peace between the Riverdale Republican Club and the Republican County Committee, then under the leadership of Sen. John Callander, was finally achieved. 

As a result of those changes, members of the local Republican clubs were elected/appointed to party positions, including the county committee, and there was open dialogue and support between the two groups.

Few Riverdalians will remember those fights, and fewer members of the Riverdale Republican Club are around to salute John for his contributions.

At some point, John lost his way and became a Democrat, but he never lost interest in or care for the democratic process, or people. As Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz pointed out, John “did what he loved,” regardless of what party hat he was wearing.

RICHARD W. BALDWIN

Richard W. Baldwin,

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