GREGORY THOMAS RITZI
Gregory Thomas Ritzi, 70 years old, of Guilford, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 30. He was a graduate of Elder High School and the first graduating class from Northern Kentucky University. Greg was a huge sports fan, especially enjoying his time playing on Elder’s baseball team and for the American Legion Bentley Post. He coached his son, Chris’s, baseball team and held season tickets to the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals. Greg worked in sales with different printing companies and when he retired he worked at West Side Paving and Excavating. For many years, he could be found flipping burgers on the deck at Perfect North Slopes. When Greg wasn’t involved with sports, you could find him on the dance floor, swinging anyone willing across the room. Greg and his wife, Sandy, loved to go to the disco when they were dating. Always the life of the party, Greg had never met a stranger. Everywhere they went, Greg was sure to know someone, and if he didn’t, he knew a good handful before they made their exit. He enjoyed his group of friends that would meet at McDonald’s in Lawrenceburg.
Greg’s family loved their vacation every year to Destin, FL where Greg fully immersed himself in their community. He was on the Board of Directors for their condo and was in charge of overseeing the landscaping crews. There were many adventures with their Florida friends who quickly became lifelong friends. Greg wanted to take his family to all of the National Parks and they were able to check many of them off their list. Even though Greg loved to travel, he loved his time home with the family. He was a hard worker and took pride in maintaining his property. He could spend hours on his John Deere or bushhog, or simply piddling with the landscaping.
Greg will be deeply missed by his wife of 41 years, Sandy nee Hamrock, and children Chris (Kari) Ritzi and Ashley Ritzi; grandchildren Alyssa and Mariah Ritzi and Caleb and Connor McIntosh; sister Karen Maushart, brother Mike Ritzi, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Dorothy and Thomas Ritzi, and brother-in-law Neil Maushart.
Visitation for Greg will be on Thursday, September 2, from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, September 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, All Saints Parish, at 8044 Yorkridge Rd, Guilford, IN 47022. Burial will immediately follow at St. Martin’s Cemetery. For those not able to attend, mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials for Greg can be made to VITAS Hospice at Drake Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guestbook and offer condolences.