John R. Rile

John Richter Rile, 91, of Rydal, PA, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 25th, 2022 surrounded by his family. John was born in Ambler, PA on May 29, 1930 to the late Ethel (Richter) and William S. Rile. As a young boy, he developed a prodigious interest in typography and typesetting. Beginning in the fifth grade, he produced, on a toy printing press, a weekly neighborhood newsletter called “The Riletter,” which sold for two cents a copy. When he was 16, he acquired, second-hand, a full-scale printing press, which filled half his family’s basement. He taught himself how to use it and developed a business printing stationery and ads for local companies. In September 1948, having graduated from Haverford High School, John enrolled in the Printing Administration Program in the College of Engineering and Science at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon). He left after a year to take a position as Type Director at Remington Rand in New York, where he also studied with the master calligrapher Arnold Bank. John served as an aerial cartographer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He then returned to his studies, now as a Fine Arts major at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1957. Later that year, he married the love of his life, Joanne (McDade) Rile at St. Joan of Arc Church in Philadelphia. They lived on Spruce Street until moving to West Mount Airy, where they raised their four children and began their businesses. John worked as a graphic designer in his own advertising firm. He later partnered with Joanne in their artists management agency. John and Joanne worked together for decades, building an internationally recognized artists management company that worked to foster diversity in the classical music world. He is survived is by his beloved wife of 64 years, Joanne, his daughter Karen and her husband Larry, his daughter Kathryn, his daughter Clarissa and her husband Chris, his son Chris and his wife Liz, grandchildren Lauren, Madeline, Caeli, Matthea, Calla, Aidan, Jessica, Eli, Nick, Ryland, Isaiah, and Brigit, and his great-grandchildren Elliot and Jocelyn. Public viewing will be held on Friday, April 29, 2022 from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, followed by a funeral mass at 10:30 AM, both at Immaculate Conception BVM Church, 604 West Ave. in Jenkintown, PA. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MusicAlly via the Musical Mentors Collaborative (www. musical-mentors.org) which brings free classical music instruction to children who would not otherwise have access to private lessons. Services entrusted to Joseph J. McGoldrick Funeral Home. Condolences may be made at: www.mcgoldrickfh.com.