Robert Ledder brought a family history in the hospitality industry to some well-known Minnesota eateries.
Ledder, a former director of food services at the University of Minnesota and a restaurant chef at Dayton's department store, died of Alzheimer's disease on April 2 in Bloomington. The longtime Edina resident was 81.
Ledder grew up in Rochester, Minn., where his father was the director of food service at the Kahler Hotel. His grandfather had owned a pub near Liverpool, England.
Ledder first worked in the restaurant business as a dishwasher when he was 14. He served as a Navy officer during World War II, and by 1948, had graduated from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, N.Y. From 1948 to 1952, he worked for the old Stouffer's restaurant chain, based in Cleveland, and helped the firm enter the frozen-food business, said his son, Dr. Charles Ledder of Edina.
He returned to Rochester to work at the Kahler Hotel, replacing his father, who retired.
In 1959, Ledder moved to the Twin Cities to operate Dayton's restaurants. Eight years later, he became director of food services at the University of Minnesota.
"I want to have exciting areas for the students where they can exchange views," he told the Minneapolis Tribune in 1968.
Ledder brought innovations to the university, adding short-order items and a cafe-like atmosphere to university dining halls. "Swiss steak may be on its way out," he said in 1968.
He also oversaw the construction of the School of Medicine's cafeteria.
Wayne Kostroski of Edina, who co-owns restaurants such as Tejas in Edina, and is the founder of Taste of the NFL, a Super Bowl charity event, said Ledder gave him his start in the hospitality business.
Kostroski said Ledder had the single biggest effect on his professional life, and had great enthusiasm for the hospitality business."
"Bob was positive about everything possible," said Kostroski, even when there was a "crisis" in the kitchen. Ledder retired from the university in 1991 and worked as a consultant for several years more.
He was a volunteer counselor to small business people with SCORE, and a board member of the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, Edina. "He was a Disney fan," said his son. "He loved to take the grandkids there."
Some years, he would visit Orlando two or three times.
Visitors to Walt Disney World are regularly asked to serve as grand marshal of its parades, but Ledder became friends with the man in charge, and led several of them over the years.
"He'd get the crowd going," said his son.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Carol, of Edina; a daughter, Nancy Holt of Eden Prairie; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild. A private family service is planned.
