George Ritter

George Ritter was born on November 20, 1928 in Sekitsch, Yugoslavia (present day, Serbia). His father, Georg Ritter died in the German Army just a few days before the end of World War II. He and his mother, Theresia Grau Ritter, were forced to leave their home in 1944 immediately after World War II as a result of ethnic cleansing of Germans in Yugoslavia. They were lucky to escape concentration camp after three years, and became refugees in Austria before immigrating to the United States in 1950. George and his mother arrived to the United States by plane with his suitcase, his accordion, and one American dollar tucked in his pocket! They lived with his grandmother upon arrival, and, three months later, he was drafted into the Korean War – barely speaking any English! After completing his tour of duty in Korea and attaining the rank of Sergeant, he was honorably discharged. He began working in a knitting mill, and later met his wife, Anna Metzger Ritter, at a knitting mill in Ridgewood where they both worked. They married in 1956, bought a house and his own knitting mill both in Glendale, and started a family. He worked hard, provided well for his family, and was successful. George truly lived the “American Dream.”

George will always be remembered for his integrity, his work ethic, his vibrant personality, his quick wit, his determination, his love and devotion to his family, his passion for soccer (go Bayern Mὕnchen!) and ice hockey (go NY Islanders!), his mechanical abilities, his patience, and his “tinkering,” spending many Christmas’ successfully fighting to get those strands of Christmas lights to work! He was a go-getter, and he was smart, funny and was well liked by everyone. He loved children, enjoyed fishing, and working on his computer for both work and pleasure. He enjoyed eating Kit Kats, ice cream, chocolate, cherries, peaches, and watermelon, and loved his beer and wine. For a number of years, he even made his own wine (and Schnapps), as well as “Speck” and Bratwurst. George was a loving and dedicated husband, father and “Opa” to his four grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his family to the New York Islander games, on summer vacations, and on ski weekends.

George was the Treasurer of his beloved club, The German Hungarian Sports Club and heritage organization in Ridgewood. He spent many weekends and weeknights at the Club and at the Metropolitan Oval watching soccer games, and, for many years, was a soccer coach. He was called “Uncle George” by many of the kids on his team because a few of them actually were his family -- son and nephews – and the name caught on! He made the socks that were part of the kids’ soccer uniforms at his knitting mill. George also organized the hugely successful “Oktoberfest” held for many years at the Metropolitan Oval. He was proud to be an American and proud of his heritage, being a “Danube Swabian/German Hungarian” type of German, and ran yearly bus trips for the Club to their annual “Treffen” (reunion) throughout North America. George was also a five-year member of the Glendale Kiwanis Club and enjoyed the camaraderie at those Thursday lunch meetings.

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Predeceasing George were his parents, Georg Ritter and Theresia Grau Ritter; his wife, Anna Metzger Ritter; his grandmother, Theresia Ritter Mὕller; his aunt, Theresia Ritter Hess; his cousins George Hess and David Hess and his daughter, Kathleen Hess; his uncles Peter Grau and Ludwig Grau; and his cousins Sophia Grau Prὃbstl, and Justine Grau Wittine.

Also predeceasing George were his sister-in-laws, Susanna Metzger Graf, Marianne Metzger Lukas, and Magdalena Winter Metzger; and his nephew, Gary Metzger.

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George is survived by his daughter, Ingrid Ritter Huber and his son, George Ritter; son-in-law, Richard Huber; daughter-in-law, Elisabeth Schubert Ritter; grandchildren, George Ritter, Katherine Ritter, Isabelle Ritter, and Claudia Huber.

George is also survived by his cousin David’s son, David Hess, his wife, Barbara Hess; his cousin David’s grandchild, Tara Hess Zimmerman and her family; his cousin Sophia’s children, Herbert Prὃbstl and his children, Cordula Prὃbstl and Fabian Prὃbstl; and Renate Prὃbstl Papsch and her husband, Dieter Papsch; his cousin Justine’s children, Margaret Wittine Lampeter, her husband, Ernst Lampeter, their daughter, Britta Lampeter Tremblay, her husband Adam Tremblay, and their daughter Emery Tremblay, and their son, Adam Lampeter; and Dianne Wittine Brangaitis, her husband, Tony Brangaitis and their children, Dana Wagner, her husband Jordan Wagner; Olivia Brangaitis; Anthony Brangaitis; and Alex Brangaitis.

Also surviving George is his brother-in-law, Adam Metzger and his son, Richard Metzger and his wife Lynda Krapf Metzger and their sons, Christopher Metzger, his wife Lori Metzger and their children Liliana Metzger and Dominic Metzger; and Sean Metzger, his wife Alison Metzger and their children Claire Metzger and Lennon Metzger; his niece Helga Graf Becking and her daughters, Marion Becking Castro and Michelle Becking Frankel and their respective families; his nephew, Albert Lukas and his wife, Sarah Beam Lukas and their children, Albert Lukas and Covington Lukas; and his niece, Laura Lukas Kuck.

In addition to his family, he cherished his dear friends Toni and Maria Reichmann and Franz and Eva Schweitzer.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at St. Francis Hospital and Calvary Hospital for their care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of George Ritter to “Kiwanis Club of Glendale NY Foundation Inc.” (501C3 Tax I.D. 11-3466930) to support their scholarship fund for the children in the Glendale community. Checks “In memory of George Ritter” can be mailed to “Glendale Kiwanis, 67-13 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385.”

A visitation for George will be held Wednesday, October 19, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Werst & LaBella Funeral Home, 71-41 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385. A committal service will occur Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Linden Hill Methodist Cemetery, 323 Woodward Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.georgewerst.com for the Ritter family.