Dr Ralph Edward Rydell's Obituary
Dr. Ralph E. Rydell, 84, passed away on April 3, 2024. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated from Wheaton High School in 1958. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and attended medical school at Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota, during which time he met his wife of almost 59 years, Kathleen. Dr. Rydell completed his neurosurgical residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Rydell practiced neurosurgery in Tampa for over 40 years. He dedicated himself to his profession with unwavering high standards and saved and improved the lives of countless patients over his career. He served as the President of the Florida Neurosurgical Society and President of the Hillsborough County Medical Association. He was Chief of Neurosurgery at Tampa General, St. Joseph’s and University Community Hospitals. From 2010 - 2013, Dr. Rydell was a neurosurgeon at Landstuhl Army Hospital in Germany, affiliated with Ramstein Air Base, caring for active-duty service members and their families. He applied his medical knowledge in many compassionate ways around the world, including administering vaccinations in villages in Guatemala and offering general medical and surgical services in Gaza in 2014 through Physicians for Global Understanding.
Ralph ran more than 40 marathons around the world, including 15 Boston Marathons. He scaled to the top of some of the world’s highest peaks, including Kilimanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Russia), Aconcagua (Argentina), and Ranier (United States), among others.
In 2015, Ralph decided to take a trip around the world ‘without leaving the surface of the earth,’ meaning he traveled by any mode except airplane. Always curious and adventurous, his stated purpose was to better understand people and himself, the history of ancient civilizations, migrations of people, origins of religion, and geography. He loved adventure and made most of the six-month journey by himself, carrying his possessions on his back. He took a train from Tampa to New York, sailed from there across the Atlantic Ocean and made his way by train through Europe, on through Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan to name a few, passing through Russia, and traveling extensively across China to Hong Kong, where he secured passage for a 14-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a cargo ship. In Los Angeles he was reunited with Kathy, and they traveled up the Pacific Coast, across Canada on the Trans-Canadian Railroad, and then back to Tampa.
Ralph and Kathy were benefactors of The Florida Orchestra, Tampa Opera, Tampa Bay History Center, Mayo Clinic and other organizations. Dr. Rydell previously served as a Trustee of the Academy of the Holy Names. He was also a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Tampa Rotary Club. He was a member of Lake Magdalene Methodist Church, and for many years found spiritual joy through fellowship and singing in the choir at Forest Hills United Methodist Church.
Dr. Rydell is survived by his wife Kathleen; his sister Ruth Johnson; his two daughters Dr. Margret Rydell (Harry Aslanian) and Amy Werner (Brian Werner); and his six grandchildren: Elise, John, Alexander, Theodore, Annika, and Penelope. He is predeceased by his brother Robert Rydell.
Services will be held on Friday, April 12 at 3 p.m. at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church, 2902 West Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33618.
In lieu of flowers, you may consider a donation in Ralph Rydell’s memory to one of the causes which he and Kathy supported: The Ralph and Kathleen Rydell Endowment for Corticobasal Syndrome Research, Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. The Florida Orchestra 244 2nd Ave N., Suite 420, St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3318
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