Richard A. Ritter

Richard A. Ritter of 3757 Cayuga St., Interlaken passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, at the age of 86.

Born in Brooklyn on July 13, 1926, Dick was the son of Alfred and Virginia (Davenport) Ritter. While still in High School, Dick worked as a Technician with Rahm Instrument Company in New York City. On July 12, 1944, immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy. He received training at the USNTC in Sampson, NY and the Electronics and Electrician’s School in Newport, RI. He served as an Electrician’s Mate aboard the U.S.S. Caswell in the Pacific during WW II. Due to an illness Dick was hospitalized at the Sampson Naval Hospital for a short time prior to receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Navy on January 15, 1947. While in the hospital Dick met and fell in love with Catherine Hagerman of Interlaken. The couple was married on June 22, 1947 in the Reformed Church and throughout the next decade they operated Hagerman Radio & Television Co. in Interlaken. From 1957-1972 Dick worked in electronics with GE, Cornell University and the R.A. Moog Co. in Trumansburg. In 1972 he accepted a position with NCR in Ithaca where he became their overseas purchasing agent. He retired from NCR in 1989.

In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by one brother, Jack. He is survived by his devoted wife, Catherine “Kitty” Ritter; one daughter, Cathie Vellake of Trumansburg; two grandsons, Glenn Smith of Ithaca and Paul Vellake of Trumansburg; four great-grandchildren and one brother, Dennis of New Jersey.

A Memorial Service will begin at 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg. Graveside Services at Lakeview Cemetery in Interlaken, with a Military Honors Tribute, will be scheduled at a later date.

The family asks those who wish to remember Dick in the form of a contribution to kindly consider the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.