Gail B. Harmon Rider

Gail B. Harmon Rider, 74, born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 15, 1950, passed into the hot, NH, summer night at 1:47am on July 30th. After successfully battling breast cancer for 23 years, she further beat the beast by leaving this world on her own terms. Gail's goal was to meet her 6th and final grandbaby. Eldest daughter, Molly, and 21-day-old baby Lucas arrived from Berkeley, California, at 1:15am. Gail nuzzled him against her cheek, opened an eye to take in the family surrounding her, and had a beautiful circle-of-life moment before relaxing into the great beyond.

Gail was preceded by her parents, Claude and Blanche Harmon of Ohio, and her younger sister, Susan Wilcox of South Carolina.

Gail, the oldest of four, was raised in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In 1968, she moved to Boston to attend Northeastern University, where she graduated with a BA in education.  Upon graduation, she became an educator in New Hampshire, starting in the Conway school district. Over her 35-year career, she attained a Master of Education at the University of New Hampshire, taught elementary and middle school, and taught special education. She invested the majority of her career teaching sixth grade and the afterschool drama program at Merrimack Valley Middle School. During her time there, she was endlessly motivated by her students' creativity and her beloved colleagues' dedication. 

In retirement, Gail took on temporary and special projects in the Winnisquam, Rochester, and Manchester School Districts, performing case management and special instruction, as well as teaching the deaf and hard-of-hearing students. These students welcomed her into the deaf culture and inspired her, at age 60, to become fluent in the beautiful language of ALS. In fact, on a visit to see her son Joe at the University of Buffalo, she took the opportunity to go to a deaf bar to immerse herself in the culture further. Gail was always so open, loving, and beguiling with everyone she met that her husband Bill, of 44 years, teased her that she'd leave the bar with a new partner!

Gail's most cherished project was her three children, whom she nurtured, counseled, and loved into extraordinary adults with fulfilling careers, incredible spouses, and six rockstar grandchildren. This is exactly what Gail had hoped for when she convinced her skeptical husband to start a family 41 years ago.

Gail loved to travel, take walks along the ocean coastlines, and explore caves, megalithic structures, mountains, and deserts. In fact, it's family lore that the elevation surrounding her home of the last 27 years in Concord is a little higher due to all the rocks and shells she collected along the way.

Many people know Gail for her love of gardening. She was galvanized by the challenge of having her flower and vegetable garden flourish. Over the years, Gail mastered the art of a tasty and bountiful tomato crop, her favorite summer food. Yet, to the humorous delight of her family, Gail wasn't a big vegetable eater. Instead, the joy of feeding her family and digging into the science of gardening made Gail happy. In the end, she had her own library full of gardening books, loved discussions with her "brothers and sisters in gardening," and loath her husband's big feet when he ventured too close to a beloved tomato or nasturtium plant.

Gail was the resident Mensa, a trait much underappreciated by her family until they discovered through their own trial and error that she was right all along. Gail often quipped, "In this household, being right can be quite exhausting." Yes. So many more things would've been accomplished if we had simply listened to Gail first.

Gail is survived by her loving and dedicated husband, Bill, of 44 years, as well as her daughter, Molly Rider King, and her husband, Reverand Dr. Hawkeye King, of Berkeley, California; two sons: Joe Rider and his wife, Emily Marvin Rider of Concord, New Hampshire, and Corey Rider and his wife Adrina Flores Rider of Alamo, California. Additionally, her six grandchildren, Blake Holbrook (12), Esmé Rider (11), Liam Rider (four), Charlie Rider (two), Luna Rider King (two), and Lucas Rider King (21 days), as well as her brothers Cliff Harmon and his wife Gail Harmon, Roy Harmon of Ohio and brother-in-law, Jeff Wilcox of South Carolina, along with countless in-laws, dear friends, nieces, nephews, numerous grand nieces, and grand nephews who she loved deeply and uniquely.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Lily Ji, MD, PhD Hematology, Medical Oncology at MGH, who led Gail’s care for 10+ years. She went above and beyond for Gail at every turn. We are forever grateful for the late-night phone calls, experiential validation, embrace of Gail’s kids to Zoom doctor’s appointments, and all-around love Dr. Ji offered our entire family.

At Gail's request, there will be no calling hours. A memorial service is being planned and will be held at a later date. Arrangements for Gail have been skillfully handled by the Waters Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, 2 Wall St, Manchester, NH 03101: https://www.mhcgm.org/donate/