Dr. Dan Ryder died on December 8, 2024, at home with his beloved wife, Zena, and their kids, Ben and Julia. He is survived by his wife and children, his parents Tom and Wendie and many other family members, friends, colleagues and students who were touched by his love, kindness, brilliance and fervent belief in the power of education.

Dr. Ryder frequently took action for the greater good. He was one of the founders of the Centre of Inquiry in Kelowna which later rebirthed into the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists Association, and volunteered with numerous local election campaigns. He spoke up, but knew the strength of clarity, patience, and above all, supporting his positions with sound arguments and well-researched evidence.

A dedicated and well-loved teacher and professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Dr. Ryder led the effort to have critical thinking added as a foundational requirement for the BA degree at UBC Okanagan. He had planned to work on getting critical thinking into the K-12 curriculum and before he died, he was overjoyed to learn that some friends and colleagues wanted to continue his efforts to promote critical thinking education, in collaboration with UBC Okanagan.

A beloved member of the UBC Okanagan academic community, Dr. Ryder’s enduring commitment to teaching and unwavering passion for exploring big ideas have left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of countless students and colleagues. Dr. Ryder was an enthusiastic and effective teacher, inspiring legions of students and helping them become better critical thinkers.

Beyond the classroom and research pursuits, Dr. Ryder was known for his kindness, warmth and approachability. He will be remembered fondly for his guidance and encouragement, which left a deep impression on all those who interacted with him.

Donations to the Dr. Dan Ryder Memorial Fund will honour Dr. Ryder’s legacy and passion for critical thinking education and celebrate the remarkable life he led and the positive impact he had on so many. Your gift will pay tribute to his life and career by supporting students in the Department of Philosophy at UBC Okanagan. Final decisions on the allocation of funds will be made in consultation with Dr. Ryder’s family.