Obituary of David C. Riede

David C. Riede, 87, passed away peacefully on August 16, at Traditions in Cuyahoga Falls. Born in Waterloo, Iowa on June 18, 1925 to the late Charles E. & Alice M. Riede, David had been a Cuyahoga Falls resident since 1955. In 1943 he was drafted into the Army and served three years in the 57th Field Hospital, a prototype of the popular M.A.S.H. hospital of the next war. Upon discharge he had been promoted to Master Sergeant of the hospital. After returning home in 1946, Dave earned his PhD in Modern European History from the University of Iowa. He retired as Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Akron in 1990, where he had been a member of the faculty since 1955. He was selected as Most Popular Faculty Member in 1967 and was named the the University of Akron's outstanding teacher in 1976. A friend and unofficial counselor to hundreds of University of Akron students for more than three decades, Dr. Riede left an enviable record as a teacher, scholar, and mentor. David also worked part-time in the Language, Literature and History Dept. at the Summit County Public Library for almost 20 years. David had been a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Cuyahoga Falls since 1955, where he taught religious education to high school students for 17 years, served on the School Education Commission, was elected the first president of the IHM Pastoral Council, and served as a lector & cantor. Dave served on the boards of both Walsh Jesuit and Archbishop Hoban High Schools, as well as the Our Lady of the Elms Foundation Committee. He also served as a board member for OASIS, Family Solutions, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Cuyahoga Falls Public Library, as well as president of the board for the Northeast Summit Family Service of America and chairman for the Culture & Entertainment Task Force for Goals for the Greater Akron Area. David was an active volunteer for over twenty years with the Ronald McDonald House of Akron, writing thank you letters to donors. In addition to his parents David was preceded in death by his daughter Mary Elizabeth in 1975. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Sally of Cuyahoga Falls; children Anne Riede of Tallmadge, David C. Riede Jr. of Cuyahoga Falls, and Margaret Riede of Raleigh, NC; beloved grandchildren David & Matthew Riede and James & Melissa Pruitt. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 4-9 pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1905 Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls. A celebration of Dave's Life will take place on Monday at 10:00 am, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by Fr. James Singler. The homilist will be Fr. Norm Douglas. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the David C. Riede Award, c/o the University of Akron Foundation Akron, OH 44325-2603 or to the Ronald McDonald House of Akron, 245 Locust St. Akron, OH 44302. (Anthony Funeral Homes, Cuyahoga Falls, anthonyfh.com, 330.928.1313)