In Memoriam: Mary Osa Stephens Ryder, 1932-2019

Mary Osa Stephens Ryder, a longtime Colorado educator, passed away earlier this summer. She was 86 years old.

Dr. Ryder began her career in education in 1971 as a junior high school teacher. She eventually transitioned into higher education and became dean and registrar at Colorado Women’s College, which later was absorbed into the University of Denver. She later became dean of education at Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colorado. The last years of her career were spent serving as the director of teacher certification for the Colorado Department of Education. After retiring in 2002, she moved to Dallas, Texas, where she volunteered at Richland College, reading to vision-impaired students.

Dr. Ryder was the valedictorian of the 1953 graduating class of Mills College in Oakland California, where she majored in education. She held a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational administration both from the University of Denver.