Dale F. Ritter

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Dale Ritter Obituary

Dale F. Ritter

After a long and courageous battle with esophageal cancer, Dale F. Ritter died on June 1, 2012. Dale passed peacefully in his home along side his wife of 49 years, Esta.

Dale Franklin Ritter was born on November 13, 1932 in Allentown, PA to Elizabeth Stewart and C. Century Ritter.

Dale Ritter was a multi sport star in high school and his athletic ability led him to Franklin & Marshall (F&M) college in Lancaster, PA. He continued to excel in football and basketball and years later would be part of F&M's inaugural class for their sports hall of fame. One of his records stood for almost 60 years before being broken. Dale graduated from F&M with a BA in education in 1955. After a brief period teaching and coaching at his high school alma mater, Ritter returned to F&M to pursue a newfound love of Geology.

Under the tutelage of Dr. John Moss, Ritter earned a BS in Geology from Franklin & Marshall in 1959. He continued his education at Princeton University who awarded him a Masters in Geology in 1963 and a PhD in 1964. Once again Dale returned to his alma mater and began his professional career as an Associate Professor of Geology at F&M. He stayed at F&M until his mentor, and life long friend, Dr. Russell Dutcher convinced him to accept a position at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. From 1972-1990, Dr. Ritter began to establish himself as one of the most respected specialists in the field of Geomorphology. He ha received numerous awards and honors to include the "Outstanding Scholar Award": President of the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association (1983-1985); Chairman of the Quaternary Geology/Geomorphology Division of the Geological Society of America; and served as US Representative to the International Association of Geomorphologists.

During this period of time, Dr. Ritter was the author of the book "Process Geomorphology" which has now become established as the authoritative textbook in Geomorphic sciences in colleges and universities around the United States. The fifth edition, now co-authored by Dr. Craig Kochel and Dr. Jerry Miller, of this book was published in March of 2011.

In 1990, after extensive years of teaching Geology, Dr. Ritter decided to return to research and accepted the position of Executive Director, Quaternary Sciences Center with the Desert Research Institute at the University of Nevada-Reno. There, he directed the paleoenvironmental studies program, concentrating on paleoclimate reconstruction and drought history in the Northern Sierra region.

Throughout his life, Dale was an avid sports fan, a frustrated golfer, a lover of dogs ("of course they should eat people food!"), and a connoisseur of American Politics.

Dale "Dusty" Ritter is survived by his wife Esta; children Duane, Darryl, Glen and Lisa; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren; sister Kay and brother Jack.

The Ritter Family would be grateful for friends and colleagues to visit The Book Of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Reno Gazette Journal and Lyon County News Leader from Jun. 21 to Jun. 23, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Dale Ritter

3 Entries

Peter Wigand

June 16, 2019

It is interesting that I receive an update request. I think if you were around, I could convince you to visit me in Dublin where my Iranian, Italian, German and Irish colleagues have just started a climate change and permascaping consulting business. So instead of sitting around in retirement, I am keeping up with my 30-something colleagues doing something about the destruction of landscapes caused by climate change. In fact, I think that you would love to see some of the 22,000-year old, 9 meter high, stream exposures in southern Italy where we work. But I imagine you have such exposures that you are still exploring.

Al Werner

July 20, 2012

I suppose that each of us can identify a couple people who have profoundly impacted our lives - Dusty you were one such person for me. I learned of your passing returning from field work in the Brook's Range, fitting I suppose, as it was in Alaska that we first met. To be sure you taught me lots of geology, but, what you also taught me was not to take life too seriously, to have fun along the way and to smile and laugh often. Dusty you were quick to do both, I remember you giving former student Norman Ten Brink a hard time about how he pronounced “loess”, Norm put a little too much Germanic “r” in the pronunciation for your liking and you finally asked…”Norm , where's the “r”? There's no “r” in loess - how do you pronounce house - horse”? Dusty despite all your accomplishments and notoriety you went out of your way to be gracious and generous. When Chris Waythomas and I were struggling with some field mapping you encouraged us by stating “you guys are cutting your teeth on some really tough stuff - if you can do this, you can do anything!” As a new grad. student I remember asking you a very specific question about a paper you had written a decade earlier. You laughed and said… “Al, I can't remember what I did yesterday - how do you expect me to remember the details of that paper?” Dusty you've been a class act, personally and professionally, you've inspired and encouraged those who have worked directly with you and countless others who better understand how the surface of the earth works because of Process Geomorphology. You live on in your family and in the students that you have mentored and I consider myself lucky to have been one of them! Thank you Dusty, for everything.

Peter Wigand

July 19, 2012

Dear Esta, both my wife and I are so sorry for your loss. I have been out of the country in southern Italy, and only now learned of Dusty's death. Esta, Dusty was such a good man. He was a wonderful colleague, mentor, and friend. When things were discouraging he would always have some wry comment and a little smile that would make the rest of us smile. He made the years when I was at the Desert Research Institute both stimulating and enjoyable. His influence goes on too. Just two days ago I assigned his book on Process Geomorphology to one of my students in Iran to read. Now some one new will become familiar with he work. Esta, words are so inadequate, but let me say that it was both a pleasure and great honor to have known him.

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