Obituaries Obituaries (December 29, 2004)

Henry Ritter

Peninsula urologist

Henry Ritter, a longtime resident of Atherton who was chief of urology at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, died unexpectedly on December 20 after routine surgery. He was 84.

Born in New York, Dr. Ritter graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and then from the New York University College of Medicine. He interned at Bellevue and Lincoln hospitals in New York City, then had a post-graduate fellowship in surgery at New York University and residencies in urology at Lincoln and New York Polyclinic hospitals.

Dr. Ritter served as a lieutenant with the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World War II and as a captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Besides working at Sequoia Hospital, Dr. Ritter was an instructor of urology at Stanford University Medical Center for 30 years and was on staff at Mills-Peninsula Hospital, Community Hospital of Los Gatos, El Camino Hospital and UCSF Mount Zion Center.

As a clinical researcher, he was part of the pioneering studies for new treatments such as Viagra, his family said.

During his career, Dr. Ritter held professional memberships and board positions in 33 medical organizations, served or was an officer on 12 hospital and medical committees, was published in 21 medical journals, was editorial consultant for patient education publications, and gave hundreds of medical lectures coast to coast, his family said. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons.

Dr. Ritter frequently appeared on radio and television, and co-authored the book "From Man to Man." He was a member of several social organizations, including the San Francisco Mayor's Host Committee.

Dr. Ritter was also an avid gardener, world traveler, skier, tennis and bridge player, wine connoisseur and lifelong patron of the theater and ballet.

He is survived by his wife of more than 55 years, Mary, and their daughter, Caroline; son Mark; daughter-in-law Gabrielle; and two grandchildren. At his request, no services were held.

Memorial donations may be made in Dr. Ritter's name to Pets In Need, 873 Fifth Ave., Redwood City, CA 94063. Arrangements were under the direction of the Woodside Chapel of Crippen & Flynn.

Kathleen Fisher

Longtime Menlo Park resident

Kathleen M. "Kay" Fisher, who lived in Menlo Park for 52 years, died December 1 at Stanford Medical Center at age 89. She died of natural causes, although she fought Parkinson's disease for more than 20 years, say family members.

Ms. Fisher was born is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1940 she married Weston C. Fisher. They moved to the United States in 1952.

Ms. Fisher was a founding member of the Palo Alto Golf and Country Club, and was a volunteer with the Menertons and the Stanford Mothers' Club. She enjoyed homemaking, foreign travel, reading, painting and spending time with her family, say family members.

Ms. Fisher is survived by her husband, Weston C. Fisher of Menlo Park; son Weston A. Fisher of Stow, Massachusetts; brother James E. Beardall of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; two grandchildren; nephew Robert G. Stewart of San Francisco; and niece Patricia McNeely of Fair Oaks.

Her sister, Bernice Stewart, an administrator and principal at Carlmont and Sequoia high schools, died last March.

On December 4, the family gathered in Big Basin State Park to dedicate a tree in Ms. Fisher's memory. The tree is next to one dedicated to her sister.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.