I am stunned, and sadenned this morning :(

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Josephine96

I am stunned, and sadenned this morning :(

#1 Postby Josephine96 » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:33 am

The article in the newspaper tells the story:

Death stuns Gateway High community









By Emily Badger | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 25, 2005


Gateway Athletic Director David Ridenour, who has spent the past decade steering the Kissimmee high school's sports programs from the bottom of the standings to Osceola County prominence, was found dead at his home Saturday night. He was 38.

Ridenour was found in the early evening near the garage door of his home on Peachtree Boulevard in St. Cloud by his wife, Ginger Ridenour. She had been visiting her daughter, Rachael Henry, in Gainesville for the day, the daughter said. Paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead about 6:40 p.m., said Sheri Blanton, a spokeswoman with the District 9 Medical Examiner's Office.

Determination of the cause of death awaits toxicology test results from an autopsy conducted Monday. The death is not considered suspicious, St. Cloud police Detective Claude Campbell said.

"It's definitely hard on my mom," said Henry, David Ridenour's stepdaughter. "She just wants to know what happened."

Ridenour had been home alone, and Henry said the family thinks he was doing work around the house. Gateway boys basketball coach Bob Baker said he spoke with Ridenour on the phone about 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Coaches at the school said Ridenour had a vision for an athletic department that, since Gateway's opening in 1986, has been known more for its losing streaks than winning tradition. He saw Gateway expanding, growing more competitive, eventually winning championships -- a goal the school was just realizing when he died.

"We're known now," said Chris Baez, a junior on the defending conference champion basketball team.

Only a month and a half ago, Ridenour hovered over basketball star Keaton Grant as he signed papers to become the school's first Division I basketball recruit. That was just after the Panthers had completed their best football season in school history -- a point of pride Ridenour announced over the public-address system at the final home game of the season in November.

He also had spent much of this past summer tracking the career of Joe Torres, a former Gateway baseball player taken in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft.

"He had dreams for athletics at Gateway that nobody else did, as far as the things we could accomplish here," said Gene Mitchell, Gateway's football coach.

"I think one of the sad parts about it is that he's not going to be here to see things continue," Baker said.

Ridenour arrived at the school in 1993 as a 26-year-old baseball coach with no high-school experience.

"That's the problem with experience," he told the Sentinel at the time. "You never get a chance to stockpile any until you get that first job. As it stands right now -- with a zero winning percentage -- I've got nowhere to go but up."

Ridenour never left the school and took over the athletic director's job two years later. Vic Lorenzano, now athletic director at St. Cloud, first hired him and recommended Ridenour as his replacement in 1995.

Lorenzano had been impressed by Ridenour's generosity and commitment, especially on Saturday mornings when the school's fields needed mowing.

"I remember many a day when he and I would be out there alone trying to get things done for the school," Lorenzano said.

Ridenour was married three years ago. His wife had three children: Rachael Henry, 19; Nick Henry, 15; and Katie Henry, 14.

They all learned to adopt Gateway as Ridenour had. Ginger Ridenour manned the ticket table at home football games, even as her own children were attending St. Cloud. Rachael Henry said many of their memories are off the field -- on family fishing trips, in the garden Ridenour and his wife tended together, and around the house, where he was always likely to break into song.

"He had a wonderful singing voice," Henry said. "We had a great Christmas together; that was the last great memory that we shared."

At school on Monday, Ridenour's absence was immediately heard over the school intercom. For students who didn't know him as a coach and athletic administrator, he was the voice on the other end of the morning announcements and daily Pledge of Allegiance. The strange voice Monday morning, students said, marked the beginning of a somber day.

Ridenour also is survived by his parents, Curt and Virgie Ridenour; a brother, Keith Ridenour; and a sister, Melinda Gerding, all of Melbourne. Grissom Funeral Home in Kissimmee is handling arrangements. There will be a viewing at Grissom's from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Kissimmee.


This was a good man.. I always looked up to him when I was a student @ Gateway and at the church.. he definitely was a Godly man there too.. I'll miss him as will lots of people.. :cry:
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TexasStooge
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#2 Postby TexasStooge » Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:48 am

Sorry to hear about that. :(
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#3 Postby weatherlover427 » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:46 am

This kind of strikes home for me since my dad died around the same time of night, went young, and died suddenly as well. :cry: So many similarities... :cry: :cry: :cry:
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Josephine96

#4 Postby Josephine96 » Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:47 am

kinda eerie for you then.. huh Josh :cry:
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weatherlover427

#5 Postby weatherlover427 » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:20 pm

Josephine96 wrote:kinda eerie for you then.. huh Josh :cry:


Unfortunately it is ... even more eerie is that my dad died in Orange County (FL) and this guy died in Osceola County. :eek: :eek: :cry: :cry:
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Josephine96

#6 Postby Josephine96 » Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:37 pm

Yep.. Osceola County Joshua.. it's a shame.. like I said.. he was a great guy.. Prayers going his way and to his wife as well as all the mourners :cry:
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SouthernWx

#7 Postby SouthernWx » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:21 pm

I'm so very sorry :(

I lost one of my favorite former teachers when I was 19. Mr Rega's death was so shocking to everyone...only in his late 30's. Both Mr Rega and his wife were favorite teachers of mine. At the funeral parlor, I didn't know what to say to her....we just hugged and cried. :(

I'll say a prayer for you, your friend, and his family.

May God Bless,
Perry
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