Dr. Mark Ritz, 55, dies
Homerville, Ga.鈥擠r. Mark Ritz, a passionate advocate for dentistry and the underserved, died Jan. 31 of complications from pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Ritz served as a member of the ADA Council on Dental Practice from 2006鈥?9. Upon hearing the news of his passing, friends from across the country reached out and shared stories with one another by phone, e-mail and Internet tributes.
“In this life you don’t get to know too many people like Mark Ritz,” said Dr. Jake DeSnyder, CDP chair. “Mark had the smarts of growing-up a big city kid and he combined that with the heart and compassion of a small town practitioner. His knowledge of organized dentistry was astounding, yet he continually sought to discuss and share new ideas. He had a drive for national leadership, yet dental talk always came down to the relationship of the Doc to the immediate patient.
“Above all, Mark was devoted to his family: he loved to share stories of what they were doing together. Always things were in the right perspective. Those of us who have known Mark are the lucky ones鈥攁nd we are better people for the experience,” Dr. DeSnyder concluded.
“I don’t know anyone who was more dedicated to our profession and the patients that we serve,” said Dr. Jeffrey Cole, a new member of CDP who’d been looking forward to working with Dr. Ritz. “He was likely the smartest individual I ever met. Although it was heartbreaking, I was blessed to be able to spend time with him [just before he passed]. His courage and humor to the end were admirable.”
Dr. Don Seago, ADA 5th District Trustee, said, “I have known Mark for several years and learned to appreciate him so very much. He was one of the most dedicated and capable people I have ever known. His loss is huge for our profession.”
A past president of the Georgia Dental Association, Dr. Ritz was an active ADA volunteer and also active with the Academy of General Dentistry, receiving a Distinguished Service Award from the latter. He was a fellow of the International and American Colleges of Dentists and the Pierre Fouchard Academy.
Although he was born in Illinois and attended dental school at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Dr. Ritz had lived and practiced in Homerville, Ga., since 1982. He did his general practice residency at the Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., and also received the Army Commendation Medal.
Dr. Frank Graham, past CDP chair, recalled a quote by Winston Churchill that he said always makes him think of Dr. Ritz.
“‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’
“The news of Mark鈥檚 death is extremely difficult to comprehend even though I was aware of the battle he was waging,” Dr. Graham said in an e-mail to fellow CDP members. “The quote above comes to mind because of the way Mark was so totally committed to his family, his profession and the people he served. He gave of himself beyond measure and in so doing made his life a model for all of us to emulate. When he called me late last summer to tell me of his prognosis. I was crushed. One of his chief concerns, though, was not about himself; as the only dentist in the county he was anxious to find someone to take over his practice so his patients would continue to receive care. That was so typical of Mark, he will be very sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Added Dr. Fred Howard, formerly of CDP, “Mark will be missed in our profession as he was always a go-to person when things needed to be done. He was also a very compassionate person as he chose to practice and serve the people of Homerville. We have lost a giant of our profession and I have lost a friend.”
Many of his colleagues in organized dentistry who flew to Atlanta for the funeral were amazed that Dr. Ritz drove four hours to the airport one-way each time he had to fly for dental business.
“I knew he had a long drive but whether he was going for a state meeting or a meeting for the ADA, he was dedicated,” remarked Dr. Cole.
Posted on the Oxley-Heard (Fernadina Beach, Fla.) Funeral Home’s Web site, dozens of friends and patients remembered their friend, several calling him a “champion.”
AGD President David Halpern posted that Dr. Ritz鈥檚 “incredible intellect and dedication were without doubt of the highest caliber, only exceeded by his honesty and moral fiber.”
In addition to his passion for dentistry, Dr. Ritz also loved fishing, spending time at the beach and attending his children’s sporting events.
A memorial service was held Feb. 6 at First Baptist Church in Homerville.
Dr. Ritz is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kathy Ritz; children Laura and Matthew; his parents, John and Margo; and brother Randy Ritz (Joanne).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 7000, El Segundo, CA; or to a scholarship fund at Heritage Bank in Homerville for the Clinch County High School Class of 2010 Valedictorian.
To share a memory of Dr. Ritz, visit www.oxleyheard.com.