Paul Anthony Rydelek

June 15, 1949 – July 27, 2025

Dr. Paul Anthony Rydelek, Ph.D., a respected geophysicist and world-traveling research scientist, passed away on June 27, 2025, in Collierville, Tennessee. He was 76 years old.

Born on June 15, 1949, in Niagara Falls, New York, Paul’s life was marked by a deep passion for discovery and an unwavering dedication to the pursuit of scientific understanding—especially in the field of seismology. His career took him around the globe, with research efforts spanning South Korea, Japan, Germany, Antarctica, and throughout the United States.

In 1975, Paul wintered over in Antarctica as part of a groundbreaking research expedition, an experience that earned him the rare distinction of having an ice falls named in his honor. He was an invited researcher at the prestigious Carnegie Institution and, in 1999, was recognized as a distinguished researcher in the study of earthquakes—one of the highest honors in his field.

Paul also shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for science with future generations as a professor at the University of Memphis, where he inspired students with both his academic rigor and his stories from a life of exploration and scientific service.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Anthony Rydelek and Catherine Cieplinski Rydelek. He is survived by his sister, Joan Hilts, and his brother-in-law, David Hilts, and his cousins who remember him with love, admiration, and pride. Dr. Rydelek's legacy lives on through his contributions to science, his students, and all who were fortunate to know him.

Paul’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 24 at 10:00 AM in St. John De LaSalle Church, 8477 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Interment will follow in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Lewiston, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations be made to a scientific or environmental research organization in Paul’s memory.