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Obituary:
- Passed away at Nithview Home, New Hamburg on March 13, 2024, just a few weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He was well-known for his remarkable memory of decades of New Hamburg and area history, his dedication to local public service, his love of learning, and his warm and gregarious personality.
He was born at New Hamburg April 5, 1925, son of the late Otto Ritz and Elena Betzner. He was married for over 65 years to his beloved wife and best friend, the former Betty Murray, who predeceased him in 2012.
He served in the RCAF from 1943-45, training first as a pilot and then as navigator, with the war ending just as he completed his training. The Ritz family had been in the printing business since 1855, and after the war, he learned the printing trade in Toronto and Kitchener before returning to New Hamburg to join the family business in 1947, and became editor and publisher of the New Hamburg Independent. Following the sale of the newspaper in 1967, he continued with Ritz Printing with his sons until his retirement in 1990.
He was devoted to his community, and was active in local public service for many decades. He was first elected to local municipal council in 1949 at the age of 24, beginning a long connection and serving on public boards and commissions, including several hydro commissions, the Grand River Conservation Authority, and in the promotion and building of the New Hamburg Arena and Community Centre. He was a member of the New Hamburg Board of Trade for over 70 years. He was the last Mayor of New Hamburg and the first Mayor of Wilmot Township when Regional Government was begun in 1973, chairing several major committees during the formation of the new form of government. In 1979 he was appointed by the Province to serve on the Waterloo Regional Police Service Board for four terms and was Chair of that body in 1986. He was a founding and charter member of the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, provided leadership in the planning and construction of the present Legion Branch Building, and was honoured with a Life Membership in 2008; he was the last surviving member of the original founding group of 34 local Legion members.
He has long been recognized as an expert in local history, and he played leadership roles in the Waterloo Historical Society and in the establishment of a local Heritage Conservation District. As a member of the Ontario Genealogy Society, he was frequently sought as a resource person by many who sought local facts pertaining to their family histories. Ironically, his interest in history began after failing a high school history test, when his principal told him that if he found history boring that he should "try writing it as he would like to read it, make it come alive" - this ultimately culminated in his publication of a volume of local history, "New Hamburg As It Really Was", in 2003. He has been recognized for his contributions by a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Heritage Society, a Waterloo Regional Heritage Award, was inducted into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame in 1997, and honoured with a Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2012.
Ernie was an avid reader and had thirst for knowledge throughout his life. He was articulate, and well-informed across a wide range of topics, and people were often surprised to learn that he had left formal schooling at the age of 16. He particularly was passionate about astronomy and was most knowledgeable about matters pertaining to the skies and universe, and loved meteorology. He was an avid computer and internet user in his later years, and continued to write a weekly local newspaper column until he was 97 - indeed, he may have been Canada's oldest weekly columnist.
He is lovingly remembered by his children Bill and John, along with their wives Kathryn and Betty. He was the proud grandfather of Stacey (Scott), Marcia (Chris, predeceased), Joe (Jen), and Jake (Kate), Betty's sons Brock (Sharon) and Travis (Laura), and great-grandfather to Liam, Braylon, and Emily. He is fondly remembered by sisters-in-law Betty Murray and Gywin Murray, cousin Shirley Unrau, many beloved nieces and nephews in the Ritz-Murray clans, along with Gladys Kropf, Dianne Ritz, Marie Voisin, many cherished friends and collaborators, and the caring staff at Nithview.
According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. Visitation will take place at the Jutzi Funeral Home on Saturday, March 16 from 1 to 4pm. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hamburg on what would have been his 99th birthday, Friday, April 5 at 1pm followed by a reception at the New Hamburg Legion. In his memory, donations may be made to the Trinity Endowment Fund, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, or Wilmot Family Resource Centre.
Personal condolences and donation information available at www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca
Published online March 14, 2024 in the Waterloo Record
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