Local Man Remembered at Workers Memorial Day

[By JoAnn R. Walter]

Each year, representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) host Workers Memorial Day. The event honors workers who have died or been injured on the job and is also a time to recommit to their mission of advocating for stronger workplace safety.

Since 1989, Workers Memorial Day has been observed annually on April 28. The date coincides with the April 28, 1971 effective date of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which President Richard Nixon signed into law.

This year’s Workers Memorial Day ceremony and wreath-laying was held at the U.S. DOL Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on April 23. Families of loved ones lost, labor leaders, and elected officials, among others, were invited.

Workers Memorial Day is observed in a few states across the country, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, although it is not a federal public holiday. States participating include Ohio, Rhode Island, California, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania.

According to government statistics, work-related incidents claim about 15 lives every day in the U.S., averaging 5,000 lives annually. In 1970, the number was 38 each day.

Willetta Ryder of Owego attended the April event in memory of her son, Timmy, along with over 130 families from across the U.S. The event was also live-streamed.

Following remarks by representatives of the U.S. DOL, OSHA, MSHA, elected officials, and others, the group moved to an outdoor setting.

Tonya Ford, OSHA’s National Family Liaison, shared at the ceremony, “Your loved ones mattered, and they mean so much more than their incident, or as another statistic.”

Family members, wearing purple ribbon pins, approached a podium to announce their loved ones’ name, age, and where they were from. They then placed a white rose near a plaque and remembrance tree and rang a bell in honor of their loved ones. Later, in the evening, a Workers Memorial Candlelight Vigil was held near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Timothy J. Ryder, Jr., fondly called Timmy by many, lost his life on Oct. 30, 2025 while working at Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling located at 1 Recycle Dr. in Owego. At the end of his shift, after all machinery in the shredding area had been shut down, Timmy was turning off the power when an electrical fire occurred in the motor room.   

Several area fire departments responded and encountered zero visibility and extreme heat. The crew performed lifesaving care, but one worker could not be revived.

Timmy was 32 years old and would have turned 33 on Nov. 10. Timmy had worked at Weitsman’s for almost two years. 

Willetta expressed, “I was so proud of him; he was my hero.”

Much of her pride stems from Timmy making positive strides toward improving his life choices and well-being. Willetta affirmed, “He changed his life around.”

Timmy had lived with an addiction and had also been arrested and incarcerated. With focused efforts, he had worked hard at his job and showed his mother and others that he was improving.

Willetta commented, “He was clean for four years, and he was just one car payment away from paying off his car.”

At Timmy’s calling hours, Willetta appreciated kind words from an OPD officer who acknowledged Timmy’s positive progress. Those words, she said, remain in her heart.

Willetta noted that she is grateful that Adam Weitsman, owner of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, gave Timmy a chance with employment and appreciates that Adam has kept in contact with her since Timmy’s death. 

Now seven months on, Willetta shared that she still finds herself looking for Timmy at the time he would have come home from work. She said Timmy loved animals, too, and even his favorite cat has looked for him around the house.  

Going forward, Willetta has taken on a personal mission to encourage the community to sign a petition in favor of recognizing Workers Memorial Day in New York State. She will then forward it through the appropriate channels in the hopes that it will gain momentum. 

In addition, she found a common connection and shared understanding at the event among other families who have lost loved ones, and hopes to go again next year.  

OSHA has also created a virtual Workers Memorial Wall, which can be viewed at www.osha.gov/workers-memorial.