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Artist was inspired by wife
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Robert J. Rider Sr. of Austintown, self-taught artist and Korean War-era veteran, says he was inspired to paint by his late wife, the former Patricia Harris, who died of lung cancer in 1996.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Robert J. Rider Sr. of Austintown, self-taught artist and Korean War-era veteran, sits in his basement-corner studio with one of his paintings showing his favorite subject — the outdoors.
AUSTINTOWN
Robert J. Rider Sr. says he would rather be ice fishing or golfing than almost anything else.
But in recent years, Rider, 82, has given up ice fishing as a winter activity in favor of a brush and palette.
Rider, of Austintown, used to go to Buckhorn Lake and Jack Lake in Ontario, Canada, to pursue his winter hobby, and according to him, out-fish the locals.
He was inspired to paint by his late wife, the former Patricia Harris, who died of lung cancer in 1996.
“She complained that I had my ice fishing, but she didn’t have anything to do in the winter,” he said.
He suggested she try painting.
“She came home from that first class holding up a painting of mountains and water saying ‘Look. Look.’ The car was still running. She was hooked,” he said with a laugh.
Patricia also took lessons from well-known Canadian artist Edwin Mathews, who founded the Gallery on the Lake at Buckhorn Lake, Ontario, where the Riders vacationed for many years.
Rider also became passionate about painting, working exclusively in oils.
“With oils, it’s easier to mix colors and start again,” explained the self-taught artist.
Primarily, his subjects are copies of pictures of nature scenes in magazines and on postcards and photographs of family members.
Rider, who served in the Army during the Korean War era, shares his talent by giving paintings to friends and family. The only ones for sale are at AwwwMazing Place! Boutique and Art Gallery at the Eastwood Mall in Niles, a nonprofit cancer-oriented store founded by his daughter, Brenda Rider, of North Jackson.
AwwwMazing Place! provides a means for unknown and famous artists to market their creations and support cancer survivors at the same time, she said.
Her father donates the proceeds from the sale of his painting to the A Way With Words Foundation, also created by Brenda. The Foundation sponsors the ROCcK (Raising Our Commitment to Cancer Kids) Children’s Choir and AwwwMazing Place!
Cancer has ravaged the Rider family.
In addition to causing his wife’s death, two of his children, Brenda and Susan Jackson of Ontario, are breast-cancer survivors. Rider survived prostate cancer.
His other children are Jane Cullen of Pulaski Township, Pa.; Judy Mayesky of Austintown; and Susan’s twin, Matthew of Washington, D.C. Another son, Robert Jr., and daughter, Pam Brown, are deceased. He has 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His companion is Jane Engelhardt of Austintown.
Rider grew up on Clay Street on Youngstown’s East Side, graduated from East High School in 1948, and founded Glorious Homes, a basement-waterproofing firm, in 1958 while still working at Truscon Steel. When Truscon closed, he operated the waterproofing company until retiring in 1984, when Brenda took over the business, which she recently closed.
Active in the community, in the late 1940s and 1950s the Riders were among the families who pioneered Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and School in Austintown. They also were involved with the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.
When cancer touched his life, he participated in the Austintown Relay for Life by sponsoring teams, walking and raising hope in the community and in his family, Brenda said.
In November 2010, he received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“He’s my hero,” Brenda said.
Though Rider has cut back on fishing, he says he isn’t ready for the couch just yet. “I’d like to learn to play a musical instrument,” he said.