Leonard Sanford Ridley

Len was born in Belmont, MA. And grew up in greater New Bedford, MA., the historical whaling port and blue-collar textile center. He acquired a solid work ethic and ability to "think for himself at a very young age. He began developing his innate creativity, and insight re. bigotry and bogus religious teachings prior to adolescence.

Len was a student at Fairhaven High (class of 1953), and graduated from Brown University/ Providence, R.I. in 1957. He elected to follow a community based and clinical Social Work career instead of pursuing various business opportunities, and a life focused on "social climbing." After earning a Master’s degree at Boston University, School of Social Work in 1961, Len was employed in child protective services (M.S.P.C.C.) and the Rodman Job Corps Center in New Bedford. In 1968, he established residence in Conn.; initially working as Executive Secretary on a Special Governor's Committee, assisting in the development of a multi-faceted children's service Dept., established in 1970. Subsequently, Len worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker serving the predominantly African-American and Puerto Rican population at an experimental child guidance center in Hartford's inner-city. Len concluded his professional career as a P.S.W. Supervisor at Conn.'s psychiatric hospital for adolescents in Meriden, CT. from 1980-1992. A vocationally, Len was a self-taught painter, and in recent years a poet and satirist with internet blogs.

Len was a peacetime Army Veteran, serving during the Berlin Wall crisis. His four children (Dirk, Kent, Fern and Grant) reside in CT. plus five grandchildren. Len married his late wife Nancy Johnson in Springville, UT in 1998; and currently leaves his fourth wife Janet Thompson and several step children.

Len celebrated life as a secular-humanist, dedicated to social activism. He has proudly supported our nation's democratic ethics; the civil rights of all minority groups; and strenuously opposed all aspects of religious bigotry, so very prevalent in Utah.

Len's cremation is being handled by the Wheeler Mortuary in Springville.