Community Corner

Broadneck Native Remembered for Many Gifts

Memorial service for Folger McKinsey "Mack" Ridout, Sr., honors his life and his legacy.

Lifelong St. Margaret’s resident Folger McKinsey “Mack” Ridout, Sr., was many things – a farmer, a church leader, a teacher, and a jouster. But for those who attended his memorial service Friday, there is one role that he played best.

“Mack was kind, gracious, and humble,” said Jane Picque, a fellow parishioner of Ridout’s at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. “But most of all, he was a gentleman.”

Ridout passed away on Monday (April 11) at the age of 85. Known around the area as “Mr. Broadneck,” Ridout worked on his family farm all of his life. He earned a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Maryland, as well as other credits in botany and horticulture from other schools. He taught science at both Anne Arundel Community College and Severna Park High School for years.

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In his remarks at Ridout’s memorial service, the Rev. Peter Mayer, rector at St. Margaret’s church, described the dedication and charisma Ridout had with students.

“There is the story of his being called back to the farm during a class at AACC,” said Mayer. “When he said he had to go, the students just up and went with him.”

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Ridout was also well-known for his jousting skills. He helped to establish the traditional jousting tournament at St. Margaret’s church, still enjoyed today.

A devoted family man, Ridout married his high school sweetheart, Florence Barbara Harper Ridout, in 1959.  They built a home on Whitehall Creek and had a daughter, Barbara, who lives on Kent Island and a son, Folger McKinsey Ridout Jr., who still lives on the family farm.

Known as one of the hardest working men in the church, Mayer said he imagined that heaven is a lot busier these days. “There is a shirt that some wear which says ‘Better get busy, Jesus is coming,’” said Mayer. “I imagine Jesus is the one wearing a shirt now that says ‘I better get busy, Mack is coming.”

Ridout, the grandson of Folger McKinsey who wrote for the Baltimore Sun from 1910 to 1950, wrote extensively about the history of the Broadneck area. Click here for a sample.


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