Loving to read a great legacy for an Ashland man who sailed the Great Lakes

For 38 years, George Rydberg cooked meals aboard the lakers you like to see sail under the Lift Bridge.

When he retired in 2010, he focused on volunteering.

That meant a lot of time at the elementary school in Ashland, where he’d tutor and read to the kids.

George passed away in February at the age of 71.

Teachers he worked with wanted to keep his legacy going, and decided they would provide a book to each of their students in his honor.

His son and daughter raised over $2500 to help buy the books. The teachers are getting a gift card this week to make the purchase.

Brock Rydberg told us, “I think he’d be happy, and proud. He’d be happy the kids keep getting to read books.”

Rydberg’s wife, Carol, said her husband liked to say, “Readers are leaders.”