Rita Ann Ehrhardt

Rita raced go carts as a girl, the only girl racer for miles and miles. She graduated nursing school and immediately drove her convertible bug-eyed Sprite across the country to Daytona Beach, Florida, the home of racing. She immediately landed a nursing job and, within two months, she repaid her dad for her car. Joining the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), she met a fellow race car enthusiast, Chuck. They announced their engagement 11 days later; they were impulsive, but they got lucky, 41 years lucky.

She continued with the SCCA, racing stock and GT 3, and later serving as a track official. An Emergency Room (ER) nurse in a Level 1 Trauma Center for the vast majority of her career, Rita sewed countless dolls and stuffed animals to kindly bestow to kids visiting the ER to provide them some amount of comfort. In retirement, she volunteered with The American Red Cross. The last car she owned was a dark grey stick shift Cobra Mustang, which she drove fast, with the top down, wind in her hair, and music blaring.

She passed away peacefully on August 6, 2024 at the age of 81. Rita is lovingly remembered by her sister, two children, daughter- and son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

To celebrate her life, please plant a native tree or make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association.