Burke Ryder
Burke's obituary
Burke Lee Ryder
May 24, 2004 – November 10, 2022
Burke Lee Ryder passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at the age of 18.
Burke was born in Denver, Colorado on May 24, 2004. He attended Graland Country Day School in Denver from Kindergarten through 8th grade before choosing to attend Kimball Union Academy, a boarding school in Meriden, New Hampshire. At the age of 13, Burke was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after complaining of pain in his leg while training with his alpine ski team. He fearlessly battled the disease for five years, including the amputation of his left leg.
Instead of retreating, Burke rose to meet his life’s challenges, and not without monstrous courage, adapted and surpassed them, living his life on his own terms. He returned to skiing on a sit-ski, loving every turn, and not long ago skied all five peaks on Breckenridge Mountain in one single day. He tackled that day as if it would be his last ski day, and it was.
Burke’s enormous heart and quiet resolve to overcome any obstacle that threatened his ability to live a full life in a short time were inspirational to all who crossed his path. His altruism and rare appreciation for life’s simple things set him apart, as did his irresistible smile. A conversationalist beyond compare, Burke innately loved reading and knowledge, which only enhanced his quick wit and unspeakable ability to be three steps ahead of you in a conversation that you started with him. True to his form, Burke would never let on that he was waiting patiently for you to catch up.
Burke looked at every aspect of this world through the eyes of a scientist. The Martian was one of his favorite movies because the science was “correct”. From a very young age, Burke was curious about how things worked, from nanotechnology to interstellar space, and his curiosity never wavered.
During his time at Kimball Union Academy, Burke was an integral part of the Theater Tech Program and passionately oversaw the lighting for theater performances in Flickinger Art Center. During his junior year, Burke was accepted into KUA’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Scholar Program before being awarded the Cyrus Richard Award, “the highest award for integrity and valor at Kimball Union Academy”. Burke fully embraced KUA, never taking one minute of being there for granted, and KUA fully embraced Burke, never taking having him there for granted. As such, after beginning his senior year living on campus, Burke chose to live out his final days surrounded by his family and his faithful dog, Hootie, just up the road from KUA’s campus at a farmhouse unofficially, but affectionately, named “Ryder Dorm”.
Burke is survived by his parents, Lee and Kristin Ryder of Breckenridge, Colorado, and his younger brother, Teo. Burke was tremendously loved and cherished by friends, far and wide, and by every member of his family including grandparents, aunts, and uncles, immediate and distant. Burke’s cousins, with whom he had an unbreakable bond, and along with Teo, will surely be trading stories and memories of Burke for the foreseeable future, eventually passing them on to their children, and their children, for generations to come.
Burke’s memory will live on, never to be forgotten.
A celebration of Burke’s life will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at 10:00 am at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80205.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, a memorial contribution can be made to the following:
The Burke Ryder ’23 Scholarship Fund at Kimball Union Academy
https://boostmyschool.com/kua…
Osteosarcoma Institute
https://osinst.org/burke-ryder
Send to someone
Want to stay updated?
Share this memorial website
Share with others
