George T Rita

George T. Rita, Esquire, died on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. He was predeceased by his son, George Thomas Rita, Jr., his daughter, Eileen Marie Rita and his brother, Frederic George Rita, Jr. Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Patricia Brennan Rita, and five children, Maureen Brennan (Neil Grover), Frederic Rita (Virginia), Margaret Gore (William), Alice Ellis (Kenneth), and Patrick Rita (Sarah). He is also survived by two sisters, Alicia Bird and Margaret (Mimi) Lawrence and eight grandchildren - Brian and Matthew Rita; Patrick, Kate and Christopher Rita; Patricia and Amanda Gore; and Max Grover. George T. Rita was born December 8, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY. In 1933, his family moved to Washington, D.C. where he attended Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase and graduated from Gonzaga High School in 1942. He attended Georgetown University, and in 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sent to Duke University for the Navy V-12 program and then to Northwestern University Officer's Training Corps in 1944. He graduated in November 1944 and was sent to the South Pacific in command of a Landing Craft Tank which operated with the Fleet in preparation for the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In the summer of 1946 he was involved in the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll where his ship was in the target fleet. He returned home in 1946 and graduated from Georgetown University Law School in 1950. He married Patricia Marie Brennan in 1950 and had seven children and eight grandchildren. After passing the DC Bar Exam in 1950, he practiced criminal, civil and tax law as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and in private practice until he retired in 1989. George also performed much pro bono work for many people in need of legal representation. As a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a talented orator and award-winning member of Toastmasters International. He was an excellent golfer and played for both the Gonzaga High School and Georgetown University Golf Teams. He also loved to fish and especially enjoyed bird hunting on the Eastern Shore with his sons and grandsons. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA. A memorial service will be held at Fort Myer Chapel in Arlington, VA and private burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.demainefuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: The Trust for Public Land 101 Montgomery Street Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94104 They may also call: 800-714-5263 Or make a gift on-line at www.tpl.org Please ask them to make their gift to "The Trust for Public Land" and note that it is in honor of George T. Rita.