Dr. Howard L. Ritter Jr.

1945 - 2023

Dr. Howard L. Ritter, Jr.

5/13/1945 - 7/2/2023

Dr. Howard L. Ritter, Jr. of Perrysburg, Ohio peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, 2 July at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Howard was born to Marie (Kruecke) Ritter and Howard L. Ritter on 13 May 1945 in Woodbury, NJ. He grew up in Oxford, Ohio where he graduated from Talawanda High School and Miami University of Ohio. He then began a 24-year career in the United States Air Force.

While serving in the Air Force, he graduated from Medical College of Ohio at Toledo, completed his residency in Internal Medicine at David Grant USAF Medical Center, and Fellowship in Oncology/Hematology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington.

Howard's Air Force career included postings in The United States as well as overseas. He served in Greenland, Turkey, and Wiesbaden, Germany where he helped provide medical care for the American hostages freed from Iran in 1981. He married his loving wife while at his Fellowship training in Seattle and his sons were born while he was stationed in Nebraska and Seattle. Howard was very proud to have served in the Armed Forces and retained the rank of Colonel at retirement in 1991.

Howard returned to civilian life where he practiced oncology/hematology at the Toledo Clinic until his retirement from medical practice in 2014.

Howard was a unique individual who followed many intellectual hobbies including a love of photography, books, cars, amateur radio, history, travel, and especially his favorite pastime of astronomy and astrophotography. He loved to visit astronomical dark sky sites and belonged to many astronomy clubs throughout the country. He especially liked to teach neighbors and children about the moon and night sky hoping they would develop a love for the sciences and astronomy. On clear Halloween nights, Howard would set up his telescope so the neighborhood trick-or-treaters could view the night sky.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Margaret (Peg) Ritter. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Wondolowski) Ritter; his sons, Philip H. Ritter; and Dr. Daniel J. Ritter; his daughter-in-law, Dr. Peyton (Goodie); sister, Mary Ann Hagerty; brothers, Carl (Pete) Ritter, Mark Ritter; and his nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be private with interment in Toledo. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Northwest Ohio and the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Toledo Hospital and the Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers. The family suggests donations in Howard's name can be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the American Cancer Society.

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