Obituaries

Martin John RiordanWhite House Police Officer

Martin John Riordan, 82, a retired officer with the White House Police, died Jan. 6 of colitis at the Spa Creek Center rehabilitation facility in Annapolis. He had lived in Annapolis for the past 17 years.

Mr. Riordan was a D.C. police officer for five years before joining the White House Police, now called the Uniformed Division of the U.S. Secret Service, in 1956. He became the agency's deputy chief of operations and worked primarily at the White House but was also instrumental in arranging the department's protection of embassies. He served under presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Gerald Ford before his retirement in 1976.

Mr. Riordan was born in Kingsbury, N.J., and grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. He played basketball at Manhattan College and served with the Marines in the Pacific theater during World War II. After the war, he worked for a New York utility company before coming to Washington.

He attended American University and the FBI Academy.

After three years of retirement, Mr. Riordan joined NASA as a security specialist and driver and worked until 1989.

He lived in District Heights for many years and was member of Mount Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville. After moving to Annapolis, he was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church there.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Ancient Order of Hibernians. He enjoyed golf and sports and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Catherine T. "Kay" Riordan of Annapolis; four sons, Michael Riordan, Matthew Riordan and Martin Riordan, all of Churchton, and Patrick Riordan of Bishopville, Md.; two daughters, Kathleen White of Crofton and Eileen Riordan, known as Sister Martin Joseph Riordan, a nun with the Catholic order of St. Francis, of Newport News, Va.; and five grandchildren.

-- Matt Schudel