Tribute

Alice Ritter passed April 8, 2025, at 3:15 am at Peppi's House Hospice with me(Cara Bissell – wife) inches from her head at the time. We (a number of friends who are making it happen) are having a "Celebration of Life" for Alice this coming Friday, April 25th, at 1:00 pm at the Southside Presbyterian Church - 317 W 23rd St, Tucson, AZ 85713. (This Church has appreciated Alice and me.) Just one of many examples of our being accepted is when a long-time congregant of Southside Presbyterian Church at her 80th birthday party we were invited to attend, Alice's proclaimed her being an atheist to which the reply came, "You think I give a damn?" with a smile. :) Alice was born during WWII when her mother was a welder on the superstructure of aircraft carriers. Her mother, Big Alice's, "What have you learned from this experience, Alice?" This helped her grow throughout her life. With a BS in education, Alice taught Physical Education. Her Brother Allan, who was in the Air Force, suggested she sign up to be an officer in the Air Force. She signed up in 1967. Twenty-two years later, she retired with the rank of Captain. Through the Burkholders (founding the VFP chapter here in Tucson), she understood she was part of the war machine. She joined VFP and became the Treasurer of the Tucson Chapter with President Jon Miles. Her Holbrook High School Alma Mater is remembered to this day by her Peace Partner Award, one of her two "twins", the other being Sunnyside High School here in Tucson. Alice's legacy is to keep the Peace Partner Award going for its second twenty years. Students must write what they have done in the past, are doing now, and what they expect to do in the future towards peace. Alice is predeceased by a beloved nephew, David Whitney. Alice is survived by her wife, Cara Bissell, and by a sister-in-law, Joan Gillis, in Alaska, and a number of other nephews and nieces, including Jeanne McClelland, living in North Carolina, and Lisa Nugent, living in Texas. Alice is also survived by her beloved in-laws from her previous marriage with Carmine Verardi, all living in Brindisi & Milano, Italy: Antonio & Fausta Verardi, Antonio & Lore dana Siena, Antonio & Maria Antonietta Sozzi, and their son Gianmarco Sozzi.

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