RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Columbus Musician Katie Reider Dies
Columbus lost a beloved musician on Monday, July 14, when Katie Reider succumbed to a rare, non-cancerous tumor after a courageous two-year battle. She was 30.
A Cincinnati native, Reider moved to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University. After graduation, she remained here with her partner of 10 years, Karen Reider. The couple later welcomed two sons, Aiden, 3, and Koen, 1.
While living in Columbus, the pop-folk singer-songwriter honed her musicianship and fan base, playing at various venues, including Comfest where she was a Gazebo Stage favorite. She shared the stage with the likes of Catie Curtis, Michelle Malone and Melissa Ferrick, among many others. Her songs earned national exposure when they were picked up by shows on ABC and Lifetime, as well as on the series Dawson’s Creek.
Although it was clear she had musical dexterity (and pedigree as the daughter of Cincinnati-based singer Rob Reider) at a young age, her music career essentially began in a small coffee shop in her hometown. Since then, Reider and her band, The Katie Reider Band, released four albums, Wonder (1998), No Retakes (2001), I Am Ready (2002) and Simplicity (2004). The latter featured Reider’s brother, Robbie, on guitar.
Reider’s illness began with what was thought to be a toothache in February 2006. After many treatments, however, she was finally diagnosed in June 2007 with a rare myofibroblastic inflammation tumor that progressed from her sinus area to behind her left eye. She underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, maintaining a sense of courage and grace throughout.
Ultimately, the illness affected Reider’s ability to sing and perform. However it did not silence her fans, which she kept in the loop throughout the treatment process via her MySpace page. One of those fans, Lauren Fernandes, launched a Web site in May, http://www.500kin365.org, to provide updates about Reider’s health and to help raise funds to go toward her medical bills.
The site’s ultimate goal is to generate 500,000 visitors each willing to donate $1. In return, they will receive nine of Reider’s original songs. The site will continue until that goal is met.
Surviving Katie Reider are her partner, Karen, and their two sons, as well as five siblings and her father.
An impromptu candlelight vigil was held at Goodale Park at sunset on July 14, where an estimated 150 people attended. Information about the event was disseminated just hours before by word of mouth. Many, including John Keeny, Reider’s pastor at King Avenue United Methodist Church, spoke in reflection on the community’s loss.
Services for Katie Reider will be held Saturday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at Crossroads Community Church, 3500 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45209. The Katie Reider family has asked anyone wanting to help that, in lieu of flowers, they visit and donate to the http://www.500kin365.org Web site.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.