DR. RONALD JAY REDDEN

1954-2021

Ronald Jay Redden, DDS, DABDA of Kingwood, Texas passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born September 19, 1954, in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Denton, Texas. Dr. Redden earned a reputation as an unparalleled anesthesiologist, a trailblazer in dental anesthesiology, a renowned teacher, mentor and leader in his field, a servant to his community, and most importantly a loving and dedicated husband to his wife Tina, and adoring father to five children and grandfather to four grandchildren.

Following undergraduate studies at The University of North Texas, where he was an officer in Kappa Sigma fraternity, Inter-fraternity Council President, and twice NTSU Greek of the Year, Ron graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry earning his DDS in 1980. He practiced in Denton while teaching pharmacology at Texas Woman’s University. With a love of teaching, physiology, and pharmacology, while raising five children, he changed course in his career to focus on a small, unknown discipline of dental anesthesiology. Ron joined an exclusive residency at the Medical College of Virginia and graduated in 1990. Entering a full-time academic career at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, he became an Adjunct Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and later was Head of the Section of Anesthesiology in the Department of Oral Surgery at the University. He taught dental students as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontology, and pediatric dental residents. During this time, he also served for 18 years as a half-time staff anesthesiologist at LBJ General Hospital. In 1997, he founded a private practice in dental anesthesia, Anesthesia Alternatives PLLC, which burgeoned into a highly successful enterprise with three anesthesiologists, Anesthesia Alternatives continues today in serving Greater Houston and surrounding communities.

Despite his involvement in private practice, Ron continued teaching and presented at numerous Hinds Symposiums in Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. During his distinguished career, he published over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals, authored chapters in textbooks and teaching manuals for the Texas Dental Association specialized courses. He served as President of the Texas Dental Society of Anesthesiology from 19982000, as an examiner of the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology and as a Director of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists. As a leader in their national organization, he was a major contributor in enabling dental anesthesiology to gain specialty recognition by the American Dental Association, finally accomplished in 2019. Ron was honored as Outstanding Alumni in the Department of Biological Sciences from The University of North Texas.

Despite a demanding professional career, Ron found time to enjoy many diverse activities. He was an accomplished trombonist, playing in church and Pops orchestras, with a group of Houston physicians called the Jazz Medics, and most recently as part of a larger ensemble, the Kingwood Big Band which also traveled and performed internationally.

One of his proudest accomplishments was completing challenging training in 2017 to become a certified Peace Officer serving voluntarily as a Deputy in the Harris County Sheriff ’s Office. Ron was driven to give back to the community but reluctantly had to pull back from his active service due to progressing cancer.

A man of many passions and affectionately known as “Daddio” to his five children and four grandchildren, Ron enjoyed hunting and fishing, snow skiing, playing guitar and other musical instruments, riding his Harley on country roads, walking his dog Cosmo, traveling adventures with his equally accomplished, adventuresome and loving wife Tina, and enjoying the family trips and laughter with his children and grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Dr. David R. Redden and Evelyn Ruth Redden. Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 8 years, Tina Bui Redden, and by his five children, sons Matthew Ryan, Kevin and Derek, and daughters Shannon Head and spouse Jeff, and Tracy Redden. His four grandchildren include Evelyn, Millie, Mason, and Charlotte. He is survived by all four of his siblings.

Family, friends, and colleagues are cordially invited to attend Visitation on Thursday, September 30, at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Hwy 59 N, Kingwood, from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

A celebration honoring his life will be held at Noon, Friday October 1, at the Woodlands Church – Atascocita, 18111 W. Lake Houston Pkwy, Humble, TX. Internment follows at 3:00pm at the Forest Park Cemetery in the Woodlands.

Contributions are welcomed for the Ron Redden Anesthesia Endowment at U.T. Health Science Center, Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Anesthesia, 7500 Cambridge St, Ste 6510, Houston, TX 77054. This endowment supports education, scholarships, programs, assistance to provide anesthesia for dental procedures in underserved populations in our community. Contributions are also welcomed for the Woodlands Church or favorite charity of your choice.