John Michael Ritter

He was a proud member of the Long Beach Fire Department, NY (Ret.) from 7/1/1986- 7/25/08 as a Firefighter/ Critical Care EMT. John served on the Executive Board of the Long Beach Professional Firefighters-I.A.F.F. Local 287, in the ranks as the Treasurer, Vice-President and President from 1/1989-12/2006.

John also worked as an X-Ray Technician at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for over 25 years and that was his true passion. He loved being at the hospital he was born in, along with all the wonderful staff.

John had a passion for life and always a smile and a wave. He was a devoted husband, loyal friend, an honest man and a stand-up guy. Never did he not extend a handshake or offer to help. He loved to travel, ski, golf, but most of all, he loved his family and friends and his hometown, where he was born and raised and the Grateful Dead. He was preceded in death by his father, Emil Ritter and step-father, Charles Silva.

John is survived by wife, Donna (Chandler), his mother, Eleanor Silva (O'Neill), his late brother, Dennis (Gretchen) Ritter, his niece Adrienne (Michael) Copp, great niece & nephew Marlyn & Brayden, his nephew, Cody (Grace) Ritter, and great nieces, Jocelyn, Jacklyn and Jaelyn, mother-in-law Margaret Ellmer, brothers-in-law, Douglas and Michael Chandler, sisters-in-law, Patricia (John) Chandler and Barbara (William) Liguori, and great nieces, Diana and Elizabeth Liguori along with uncles and cousins and numerous friends and co-workers.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Wednesday, August 30th at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens 525-111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108. Then John will be brought home to be celebrated on Friday, September 1st, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Christopher Jordan Funeral Home, 302 Long Beach Road, Island Park, NY 11558. Mass on Saturday, September 2nd at 10: 00 am to be held at St. Ignatius Church, 721 West Broadway, Long Beach, NY 11561.

His wife and family would like to thank all of those that have helped John through this journey and in lieu of flowers please donate to Hilarity for Charity @ www.hilarityforcharity.org, or Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34109.