Who was Ken Dryden married to? All about family as fans mourn NHL Hall of Famer’s death

Former NHL star Ken Dryden, 78, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer.

The news of Dryden's death was announced on Saturday by the Montreal Canadiens, a team he played for eight seasons. Ken, who was married to Linda Dryden for 55 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 5.

The current owner of the Montreal Canadiens, Geoff Molson, released a statement mourning the death of the former NHL Hall of Famer. He said:

"Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man. Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations.”

More about Ken Dryden and his family, as the legendary hockey player passes away

Ken Dryden was born on August 8, 1947, to Margaret Adelia Campbell and Murray Dryden. Ken, along with his sister, Judy Dryden, and his brother David Dryden (also a famous hockey player), was raised in Islington.

Dryden's father was a businessman and philanthropist who founded the non-profit organization Sleeping Children Around the World to provide mattresses for children worldwide. His mother was a kindergarten teacher.

In a 2016 interview with the Financial Times, Dryden reflected on how his father began the charity. He said:

"It just started with Dad loving to take pictures of sleeping kids and then thinking someone like UNICEF would be interested in them. The one thing that was absolutely clear in Dad’s mind from the beginning was that it should be 100 per cent charity. My father lived until [he was] 92 and I believe that he wouldn’t have lived nearly that long if it wasn’t for this [passion]. I think one of the lessons is that if people are doing stuff just for financial return, they’ll get tired of it at a certain point."

Dryden was selected by the Boston Bruins as the 14th pick in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft; shortly after, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins and would later help his team to win the Stanley Cup the same year.

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Not much is known about Ken Dryden's married life, as he and his wife maintained their privacy throughout the years. According to reports, Dryden married Lynda Dryden in 1979, when he was 32 years old. The couple were together for 55 years until his passing earlier this week. They shared two children, Michael Dryden and Sarah Dryden. He is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

Dryden was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1983. It is said that during his off-season, back in 1973, he pursued a law degree at McGill University, and later went on to build a career in politics after retiring from hockey in 1983.

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