Philip J. Ritter

Philip Joseph Ritter, husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, died at age 93 in Denver, Colorado, on September 14, 2026, after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Born April 17, 1933, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Phil died peacefully in his sleep with his wife of 70 years, Shirley Reget Ritter at his side, holding his hand.

Phil attended Aquinas High School in LaCrosse, WI, and received a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Journalism from Creighton University in Nebraska. Phil later earned a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications from the University of Denver. He spent two years in the United States Army after college, which turned out to be a pivotal time because the army introduced him to Colorado. Once setting foot in Colorado, he and Shirley stayed. He loved hiking in the Rocky Mountains with his wife and children, teaching his kids from a young age about the beauty and grandeur of the outdoors and how to respect it.

In his early years, Phil worked in journalism, writing for The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, and the Catholic Register, all three at times. He then transitioned to a career in fund raising for nonprofit organizations, raising significant money over the years for such notable Denver institutions as the University of Denver, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Presbyterian Hospital, and Lutheran Hospital.

Above all else, Phil loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. He loved hiking, traveling to foreign countries, and voraciously reading anything he could lay his hands on.

Phil is survived by his 4 children, Joseph, Jane, Tim, and Eric; his brother Steve Ritter; grandchildren Zachary, Clarissa, Amalia, Antonia, and Miriam; 5 great-grandchildren; and multiple nieces and nephews. His beloved granddaughter Skylar Harris predeceased him in August 2025. He is also predeceased by his parents Louis Ritter and Anna (Senski) Ritter and his brothers Louis, Paul, and Donald.

The family will have a private scattering of Phil’s ashes in the mountains he loved. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund- https://curealz.org/