As a gentleman’s B (and more than occasionally C or D) student, I’m hardly one to quote on EDUCATION.  Today’s post will take you through my metamorphosis.  Last year, I had the honor of winning an award from the Chamber of Commerce in my hometown.  It was a great night.  My whole family was there, with grandsons Graham and Bradley, then 9 and 7, leading The Pledge of Allegiance.  My daughter Jenny introduced me, and did a great job talking about what a powerful experience it can be for old duffs to get involved in helping kids.  I am reprinting her remarks below.

I truly believe that seniors should not be pandered to for our vote, or dropped off at the dog track with our home phone numbers pinned to our cardigans.  We should be asked to help.  EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION!  Leave a comment with your thoughts and let’s make it happen!

Thanks,

George S.K. Rider

Jenny’s intro:

Many of you know my father as a former Wall Street guy, hockey dad, community leader and champion of Bay Shore’s kids.  He was born in Bay Shore, and he has lived nearly his entire life on Woodland Drive…   But there’s a side of him you MAY NOT be aware of!!

Tonight, I am going to tell you about the secret life of George.   Look how nervous he looks!… It was back in the late 1990’s.  My father had recently retired and was searching for what to do with the rest of his life… Which is a nice way of saying my mother had given him an ultimatum: GET OFF THE COUCH.

With more than a passing resemblance to Spencer Tracy, he’d often been told he should be in Showbiz.  One Sunday morning, he announced to us it was time to share his latent acting talent with the world.  And being the loving, supportive family that we are — we all burst out laughing.

But as anyone who knows Dad understands, he can be relentless.

I was living in Washington at the time.  I remember my father calling me as the weeks progressed:  He was taking acting classes in the West Village.  He’d gotten not only one, but three, agents – in a single afternoon.  He was cast in a Gatorade ad in Sports Illustrated.  Then he got a part in a commercial for ESPN’s March Madness… doing a mean Dick Vitale impression. Allie Van Nostrand saw him while sitting at a bar in Australia and called my brother!  George was a star!  There was no stopping him!

Next time Dad phoned, it was to tell me that he starring in a TV ad for Pepsi.  Wearing Lederhosen, dancing the polka.  “Dad,” I asked. “You know how to Polka?”

“Of course not,” he giggled.  “I winged it.”

One night I phoned him from a 737, flying into some campaign stop.  The reception was scratchy.  He answered and excitedly told me, “Guess what? I’m going to be in a musical!  On TV!”

“A musical?” I asked  “On TV?”

“A musical!” my mother replied.  She had picked up the phone in the kitchen.

“It can’t be a musical on TV,” I said.  “They haven’t made musicals on TV since Sonny and Cher…”  Suddenly, a vision of my father in bell-bottoms flashed before my eyes.

And then it hit me.

“Dad, you don’t mean a music video, do you?” I nervously asked.

“That’s what we said,” they both chimed in simultaneously.  “A MUSIC VIDEO.”

“Oh, my.”

A couple of months later, sure enough, there was Dad.  On MTV.  Standing right next to Joan Osborn, in black leather, with a belly-button ring.  Let me clarify that: Joan was sporting the leather and belly-button ring, not George.  At least not yet, anyway.

I remember experiencing a burst of pride and embarrassment, mixed with panic.  WHAT WOULD GEORGE DO NEXT?

You see, around that time a movie called “The Full Monty” had come out and was a huge hit…  It was so successful, in fact, they decided to turn it into a Broadway show and, guess what, they were about to start casting…

Then, Dad blew out his hip, and his acting days – alas – were over.  While it was a huge loss for Broadway fans – and women – everywhere, I like to think it was a big gain for Bay Shore.

He became even more involved as a community leader, and he launched the Andover Summer School program with Bay Shore High School.  Phillips Academy, Andover, is a private boarding school north of Boston for grades 9-12.  With a deep endowment, it offers a very intensive educational experience, and includes teachers and students from around the world.  Both my father and I were fortunate enough to attend.

With the help of Bay Shore high school officials, and with Andover graciously supplying the scholarships, the program my father started sends two kids each summer to Andover for an eight-week program that broadens their horizons – and helps prepare them for college.  To date, 28 kids from our area have attended, equaling more than $140,000 in scholarship dollars.  These students have gone on to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, MIT, Northwestern, Princeton, Boston College and Fordham, just to name a few…  reflecting the incredible talent here in Bay Shore,  the strength of our local school system, and, of course, the vision and tenacity of my dad.

I could drone on and on some more about my father’s many accomplishments – but, heck, my father speaks next and I thought I’d let him do that!

Instead, I’d like to spend a few minutes telling you what the kids themselves have to say about their experience at Andover, and the impact that my father has had on their lives.

“Andover was an ideal and even now, I’m still so in love with it.  It was how the world, how learning should always be.  My friend had gone the summer before and came back with such wonderful stories.  I’m glad that I was chosen to go and experience the magic for myself.  Andover instilled a deeper love of learning in me, one that I shall never relinquish, all thanks to Mr. Rider.”

— Jailene.  Jailene, who is here tonight, is currently pursuing a career in international law.

Next…

“I first met Mr. Rider when I was thirteen years old.  He was telling me about going to school during my summer vacation, and I thought that maybe I should stop trying so hard so I wouldn’t get noticed for these things.

“Fortunately for me, Mr. Rider made the opportunity sound inviting.  He told me about the classes and the other kids from around the world, and the experiences that I could take with me if I was accepted to go to Andover.  He was right, it was an amazing journey to be so young, and to experience so much away from home.

“I grew up a lot that summer by taking chances and making my own decisions…  I was so content with my experience at Philips Academy that I moved on to do other summer programs, including one at Boston University the summer before I graduated high school.  I wasn’t afraid, and I was more than ready to take classes and meet new people.  I also found my college there, Boston College – another place where I was ready to live out my dreams.  Because Mr. Rider offered to help open my world to new ideas and exciting opportunities, I have become an adult that understands that anything is possible.”

— Racquel or “Rocky,” who is also here tonight all the way from Boston, is now studying for her Master’s degree in Public Health.

The next is from Kelila:

“Thanks to the guidance of Mr. Rider and his daughter Jenny I will be graduating from Northwestern University this coming June…

“I met Mr. Rider my sophomore year at Bay Shore High School through the Andover Summer Session. Not only was I challenged academically at this program, but I was immersed in an environment with students like myself from all over the world.  I will forever be grateful for this experience.  After the summer at Andover, Mr. Rider and Jenny promised to assist me with college applications and whatever career goals I had in mind.  Senior year was hectic, but the Riders helped navigate me every step of the way. From reading my college essays to taking me to campus information sessions, they helped me make one of the biggest decisions of my life.  Northwestern had always been my first choice, but without the support of the Riders it seemed just a dream.

“From the Bay Shore Class of 2005 to the Northwestern Class of 2009, I truly have come a long way.  I can’t imagine the journey without the Riders, especially without Mr. Rider. He has been more than a mentor to me, almost like a father figure; checking to make sure I am alright in the Windy City and sending me care packages to let me know I am no further from home than a phone call.  Hopefully, I will be able to give back to Bay Shore all that Mr. Rider has given to me.

“You’re the best Mr. R.”

— Kelila, who is cramming for finals as we speak, plans to pursue a career in marketing.

Next –

“I’ve had the privilege of knowing George Rider for eleven years.  I’m 25, so that’s almost half my lifetime.  To say he’s had an influence on me would be an understatement… Over the years, Mr. Rider has written countless recommendations on my behalf, for college, scholarships, grad school, and even as a contact for employment.

“Mr. Rider and I met in 1998 when I was chosen as the first Bay Shore student to attend the Phillips Academy summer session…  [It] was my first time away from home for more than a weekend.  I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and became more independent.  The eight-week session in Andover was also my first time in Massachusetts, a state I grew to love and would return to in four years to attend Harvard, which may not have been the intention of Mr. Rider, a Yale graduate.

“I’ve only known Mr. Rider in his retirement, during which I’ve seen him mentor Bay Shore students, spearhead the revitalization of his community, be a devoted father and grandfather, and develop as a writer.  He’s accomplished what many would consider a life’s work at a time when he had every right to take it easy.

“It may seem that a man who started a program that sends students away from Bay Shore would not be the biggest fan of his hometown.  Quite the opposite.  After all, the further we go, the more the world hears about where we started.”

— Aisha, who graduated from Harvard, and is now a very successful TV writer in Hollywood.

Finally:

“After knowing George for over 6 yrs now, I realize there are countless things he could have done with his life. As much as he loved football, I’m shocked he didn’t play for Notre Dame, because with the size of the heart he carries in his chest and the fire that burns inside his belly, they would’ve made a movie called GEORGE instead of RUDY… wouldn’t even have to change the uniform I’m pretty certain they’re the same Pad size.

“He could have been back-packing, chopping through some jungle with a machete or climbing some mountain like Survivor Man due to his unrelenting, never-give-up attitude, and how he’s strapped Bay Shore’s young onto his shoulders just to help us through and show us the light on the other side.

“Or maybe we’d be watching him on ESPN sitting across from Johnny Chan at the World Series of Poker, an Ace away from bringing home a bracelet and a cool million beans. Only because he’s not afraid to take chances and Gamble on a long shot, like myself and many others like me.

“I guess what I’m saying is GOD has blessed George with all the tools necessary to be whatever he wanted and do anything he wanted throughout the years, but instead he’s spent his time, money, efforts making sure other kids from the same neighborhood realized their full potential and went after their dreams.  If that isn’t deserving of Man Of the Year, then perhaps we should redefine Man.  George, you’ve gotten us through the night so that we could shine. Therefore the new dawn is rightfully ours.  But this day is rightfully yours.

“Congratulations, George. I pray I’m able to help others the way you and your family have helped me.  Your friend, and mentee always, Jemel”

No surprise, this amazingly talented young man — who is also here tonight — is pursuing a career as a writer.

Since I can’t possibly top that, I’ll leave it there.  Thank you, everyone!  Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my dad — George Rider…