Ryder D. Crockett

Ryder D. Crockett passed away on July 20, 2025 in Seattle, Washington, after living with cancer for more than two years. He would tell you that he did not lose his battle with cancer, but that he fought the cancer to a standstill, and neither side won.

He was a proud veteran of the US Army Reserve obtaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (ret), serving in the 100th Battalion/442nd Regiment, 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, and the 448th Civil Affairs Battalion. He deployed multiple times – including to locations in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Iraq, and Djibouti.

He loved to reminisce about his childhood spent on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Maui, and was always looking for excuses to go to his favorite Hawaiian food restaurants for a plate lunch of chicken katsu with extra sauce. He was incredibly proud of his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Washington, and his Political Science degree from the University of Hawaii. He also very fondly remembered the time he spent in Houghton, Michigan attending Michigan Tech – a place where he formed some of the strongest and longest lasting friendships of his life. He loved animals of all kinds, playing video games, classic science fiction, the Discworld books, and discussions of politics and military strategy. His favorite way of keeping in touch with friends who he didn't get to regularly see in person was an hours-long phone call.

He only liked to hug one person – his wife, Carla Englander, who will miss him deeply. He is also survived by his mother Ruth, and sisters Victoria and Marisa.

If you feel so moved, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, or the Second Amendment Foundation in his honor.