"When families join, legacies intertwine. What began as two separate lineages—one rooted in civic infrastructure, the other in cultural and intellectual pursuit—merged to create something greater than the sum of its parts.”
— Dustin Lee Bayn
A Legacy Woven: The Henderson–Rieder Lineage Meets the Maddy Arts Dynasty
In the tapestry of American legacy, there are moments when separate threads, long in the making, finally intertwine. For our family, that moment arrived when the Henderson–Rieder line—marked by civic innovation and scientific discipline—merged with the musical mastery and cultural founding of the Maddy dynasty.
This volume explores that convergence through two vital figures: Richard Arthur “Dick” Maddy, the decorated war hero and master craftsman of Interlochen, and Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson, the paleontologist and spiritual matriarch who brought scientific brilliance and grounded faith to the next generation.
Richard Arthur “Dick” Maddy (1923–2006)
Master Percussionist, War Hero, Violin Maker, and Founding Force of Interlochen Arts Academy
Born December 24, 1923, in Richmond, Indiana, Richard was the son of Dr. Joseph E. Maddy—the visionary founder of Interlochen Center for the Arts—and Marie C. (Nangang) Maddy. A life immersed in music, discipline, and service began early and continued with purpose.
Early Life & Education
Richard grew up in a household where music was more than sound—it was the foundation of community. He enrolled as an Interlochen camper from 1938 to 1942 and graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, where he was both a band musician and boxing champion.
World War II Heroism
During World War II, Richard served as a radio operator and waist gunner aboard the B-26 Marauder with the 9th Army Air Force, participating in bombing raids that supported the D-Day landings. His valor earned him 13 air medals, 12 bronze oak leaf clusters, a silver cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. Shot down behind enemy lines, he survived with the tenacity that would define his life.
Craft, Teaching, and Interlochen
After the war, Richard earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Michigan and taught music in Kingsley before founding a chain of music stores in the Ann Arbor area. But it was his apprenticeship in violin-making that fused his artistry with his precision. His narrow-necked viola design and expert craftsmanship elevated him to a master instrument maker.
Returning to Interlochen in 1963, he served as Comptroller of the Interlochen Arts Academy, working alongside his father, Dr. Joe Maddy, to solidify the institution’s future. His string repair business served not only the region but musicians around the world. Among his honors: rebuilding a Stradivarius violin and serving as a lifelong tympanist for Interlochen, the Ann Arbor Symphony, and Traverse Symphony.
Richard passed away on August 3, 2006, leaving behind a legacy that lives in every note played on the instruments he crafted—and in every student inspired by the academy he helped build.
Dr. Joseph Edgar “Joe” Maddy (1892–1966)
The Visionary Founder of Interlochen and Patriarch of Music Education
Dr. Joe Maddy, Richard’s father and our great-grandfather, forever changed American music education by founding the Interlochen Center for the Arts in 1928. Originally launched as the National High School Orchestra Camp, Interlochen quickly evolved into a global hub for young artists.
A professor of music at the University of Michigan, Dr. Maddy recognized the transformative power of arts education long before it became a national priority. His efforts included creating one of the first national radio orchestras, broadcasting concerts coast-to-coast, and cultivating a space where creativity and excellence could flourish across all disciplines.
The founding of Interlochen Arts Academy in 1962 expanded this vision into a full-time institution—one that still serves as a sanctuary for artistic development.
Today, Interlochen stands not just as a school, but as a symbol of what a life dedicated to cultural enrichment can accomplish.
Photograph of Richard Arthur Maddy (left) in U.S. Army Air Forces uniform with his father, Dr. Joseph Edgar Maddy (right), founder of Interlochen Center for the Arts. c. 1944.
Taken during World War II, this moment captures the convergence of military service and cultural legacy. Richard A. Maddy, a decorated radio operator and gunner aboard the B-26 Marauder, served in the 9th Army Air Force. His father, Dr. Joseph E. Maddy, was a pioneering music educator and the visionary behind the Interlochen Arts Camp and Interlochen Arts Academy, which became a national model for arts education.
The photograph symbolizes the family’s enduring commitment to service—both civic and artistic—and the passing of values across generations.
Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson (1925–1990)
The Bridge Between Earth and Sky — A Geologist, Pilot, and Scholar Who Grounded Our Family
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson was the daughter of the Rieder family—long known for their contributions to Michigan’s civic and infrastructure development. But Janet’s legacy rose beyond roads. She forged new paths in geology, aviation, and aerospace—bridging disciplines with brilliance and precision.
A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Janet earned her Master’s Degree in Geology, specializing in micro-paleontology—the study of subsurface earth and fossil remains. Her work contributed to oil exploration and geological mapping, particularly during her tenure with Standard Oil Company of California, where she was employed for three years.
Her academic career included teaching extension courses in Grand Rapids for the University of Michigan, where she led students through subjects like land formations, glaciation, fossil studies, and flood control. She challenged the stereotype that geologists had to be “bearded and booted,” proving instead that intellect, not appearance, defined scientific merit.
Janet was also a licensed pilot, and later worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)—extending her curiosity and technical skills into the realm of aerospace. Whether guiding students through prehistoric epochs or charting skies above Michigan, she embodied exploration in all forms.
Raising her daughter, Lori Henderson, as a single mother in Saginaw, Janet built a home filled with maps, fossils, flight charts, and precision instruments. She taught by example, blending meticulous study with fearless independence.
“She didn’t just raise a child—she carried forward two legacies. My grandmother is the reason the Maddy musical legacy and the Rieder civic legacy ever met. She didn’t pass down silver—she passed down altitude.”
— Dustin Bayn
“Neither Bearded Nor Booted.” Herald Photograph and Feature Article, c. 1950s.
This newspaper clipping features Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson during her time as a geology instructor for the University of Michigan Extension Service, following her tenure with Standard Oil Company of California. The article highlights her contributions to micro-paleontology, her Master’s degree in geology, and her role in challenging gender norms within the field of earth sciences.
The Joining: Lori Henderson-Bayn and the Continuation of Purpose
Lori Henderson-Bayn, daughter of Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson and Richard Arthur Maddy, stands at the confluence of two powerful legacies—scientific inquiry and musical genius. She was raised in a home shaped by geological research, aviation charts, and quiet determination, with a mother who worked for Standard Oil, held a pilot’s license, and later served at NASA.
Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson — Senior Portrait, University of Michigan (Circa 1940s)
Her children, including Dustin Lee Bayn, founder and CEO of Dennco Holding Company, are the living continuation of a lineage defined by precision, creativity, and community-driven innovation. Through them, the spirit of discovery and resilience lives on.
Henderson–Bayn Family at the Falls (circa 1992–1993) From the Right Infant Caiti O’Meara-Bayn, Father Dennis Bayn, Mother Lori Henderson-Bayn, Infant Dustin Lee Bayn (future founder and CEO of Dennco Holding Company)