Wednesday, Oct 24, 2012
Mr. Ahearn had joined the senior administrative staff at Rider in July, continuing a successful, 30-year career in strategic communications, marketing and media relations.
It is with deep regret that Rider University announces the passing of William J. Ahearn, assistant vice president for University Communications and Marketing, who died on Tuesday, October 23, after a brief illness. Mr. Ahearn, a resident of Cranford, N.J., was 55.
A native of Jersey City, N.J., Mr. Ahearn joined the senior administrative staff at Rider in July, continuing a successful, 30-year career in strategic communications, marketing and media relations. He was a member of the School of Education Centennial Planning Committee, and chaired Rider’s Communications & Marketing Council.
“In his short time as a member of the Rider family, Bill impressed us all with his communications skills, collegiality, professionalism and wit,” Rider President Mordechai Rozanski said. “He will be deeply missed. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Rider University community are with Bill’s family.
Most recently before coming to Rider, he had been a managing partner at Morrow Betterer Caro, a management consulting firm, and the vice president for strategic communications and information technology for Juvenile Diabetes Research (JDRF). Previously, Mr. Ahearn held senior communications and marketing positions in the financial and banking industry for such institutions as Lehman Brothers, Price Waterhouse, Prudential Securities, Citicorp and HSBC.
Mr. Ahearn, who had been serving as the chair of the Board of Trustees at Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, received a Master of Arts in Public Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism from Fordham University.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 27, at 11 a.m. in the Saint Peter’s Preparatory School Gymnasium, 144 Grand Street, Jersey City, N.J., 07302. Calling hours are on Friday, October 26, from 4 to 8 p.m., also at Saint Peter’s Prep.