Dr. Thomas J. Rittenhouse

1933 - 2023

Dr. Thomas J. Rittenhouse Jr. died on March 18, 2023. A man of deep faith, he passed peacefully from the loving embrace of his wife of nearly 65 years, Joyce O'Malley Rittenhouse, into the arms of his mother, father and sister, whom he missed dearly. No doubt he is also planning a few rounds of golf with Don Nolan, Hank McGrath, Pat Boland, Walter Larkin and George Chmiel, some of the best friends a person could want.

Tom was a gentleman to the end, except perhaps when the N.Y. Giants or Detroit Tigers were playing, with always a kind word or a joke to put friends and strangers alike at ease. He leaves a legacy of commitment to public and community service, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren, and which he embodied in the many charitable organizations he led and supported and in the treatment of his patients. As a podiatrist, he still made house calls two or three days a week until the day he retired, often returning home late at night after caring for elderly and institutionalized patients, once remarking, "If I don't do it, who will?"

Tom was born July 14, 1933, in Scranton, Pa., and graduated from St. Paul High School, class of 1951. After attending the University of Scranton, he graduated from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He served in the United States Army at Brooks Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before returning to Scranton to practice podiatry for over 50 years.

He was a lifelong learner with a deep love of culture, music, poetry and history, but even in his final days he provided color commentary on the current NCAA basketball games as if he were still leading his St. Paul's high school team. Tom was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Country Club of Scranton for 68 years and attended many professional golf tournaments, including the Masters 27 times, with his wife, children and friends thanks to his close relationship with Art Wall.

Tom was dedicated to many philanthropic activities, including serving as president of the Catholic Choral Society for 38 years and a member since 1961; board member and past president, University of Scranton Alumni Society; charter member and past president, Saint Francis of Assisi Kitchen; board member, Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association; board member, Pennsylvania Podiatry State Board; board member and past president, University of Scranton Purple Club, and board member, Abington Area Joint Recreation Board. He was a faithful member of the Church of St. Gregory.

He never missed a St. Patrick's Day parade, or any Irish celebration for that matter. To the dismay of many local educators, Tom thought it perfectly normally to pull his kids out of school every year to celebrate their Irish heritage at the parade in New York City.

He is survived by Joyce, his bride since 1958, as well as his children, Patrice R. Persico and husband, Joe; Tod Rittenhouse and wife, Claire; Maureen R. Van Bloem and husband, Peter; Jennifer Rittenhouse and husband, Bob Brutzman; and Dan Rittenhouse and wife, Kristen; as well as too many grandchildren and great-grandchildren to mention. But here goes: grandchildren, Tim and Maggie Persico, Elise and Michael Allocca, Jay and Lia Persico, Nan and Rosie Rittenhouse, Emily and Grace Van Bloem, Jack, Patrick, Kathryn and Elizabeth Brutzman, and Helen Rittenhouse Gallagher, Alex and Molly Rittenhouse; as well as great-grandchildren, Thomas and Mac Persico, and Leo and Jack Persico. He is also survived by his nephew's widow, Maureen McGowan; niece, Mary McGowan Hoban and husband, Bill; nephew, Tim McGowan and wife, Theresa; cousin, Fran McGlynn; sister-in-law, Virginia Kane and husband, Bill; and nieces, Kathleen Kane and Sharon Risse.

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Thomas J. and Mary Rittenhouse; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Joe McGowan; numerous cousins; and his nephew and close friend, Dr. Jay McGowan, whom he treated more like a brother.

Among his many blessings, his greatest was his wife. They built a life together of great joy and happiness, traveling the world, weathering the ups and downs of any life worth living, crying for each other's troubles, and smiling at their funny little ways. He was most proud of what he considered their greatest achievement: Raising five "mostly well behaved" children, who remain among each other's closest friends to this day. He presided over many a boisterous meal in the family breakfast room, sparking laughter and love and only a few family quarrels, with a sharp wit that never stung. He now leaves a loving family, in the words of an Irish poet, to "remember, he was here, we were here, and together we built a world."

The funeral will be Saturday, March 25, 2023, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Gregory, 330 Abington Road, Clarks Green, Pa. Interment will be at Cathedral Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. at Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, PA 18411. For directions, please visit the Jennings-Calvey website.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Catholic Choral Society of Northeast Pa. or St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen of Scranton.