Dexter Resident 'Al' Ritt Dies At 77

Former Dexter High School assistant principal and teacher Elvin "Al" Ritt died at the age of 77 Friday evening. Ritt, a long-time Dexter resident, battled leukemia for two years. 

The football field at Dexter High School was named after him when he retired in 1989. He taught math classes and coached football, baseball and started the school's wrestling program, said his daughter Tracy Marrin, 52, of Dexter, who lives next door to his home. 

Everyone knew him, she said, and she would often hear stories about what he did for others.

"I've had students tell me about things that happened in class," she said. "People told me my dad was the only one who told them to straighten out."

She said parents said he helped students going through tough times. She said others told her they liked math because of how he taught.

John Hansen, former Dexter schools superintendent, said Ritt was the kind of person you built a community around.

"The world could use a whole lot more Al Ritts," he said.

Hansen said he was someone everyone could look up to and was always modest.

"Every community has a dozen or so people who have a major impact in shaping the community. This is one of those men," he said.

Marrin, who graduated from Dexter High School with Ritt's other children, said she had his algebra and geometry class.

"I was caught sleeping in class more than once," she said.

After teaching, he became the athletic director and then the assistant principal at Dexter High School. Ritt stayed involved in the school after he retired.

"I think he had a lifetime pass for all of the games," Marrin said.

He substituted math classes for several months and did other supplemental math work, she said, so he also taught both of her children, Larry and Candice.

Ritt played for minor league baseball in the mid-50s and played football at Albian College in Michigan. He spent his years after retirement selling real estate for about 10 years, Marrin said. He also loved to hunt and golf, she said, and worked at Hudson Mills Golf Course in Dexter. 

He also loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she said.

Ritt leaves behind his wife, Audrey Ritt, 72; children Alan Ritt, 54, and wife Diana; Tracy Marrin, 52, and husband Doug; Michael Ritt, 46, and wife Stena; and Patrick, 44. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Larry Marrin, 28; Candice Marrin, 24 (Doug and Tracy Marrin's children); Zhenya Ritt, 13 (Patrick's son); and Kennedi Ritt, 3 (Michael and Stena Ritt's daughter).

He also leaves behind his great-grandchildren Brendan, 2, and Drake, 11 months (Larry and Rachel Marrin's sons). Ritt's mother, Lena Snodgrass, 94, is alive and lives in Saline.

There is visitation 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Dexter United Methodist Church. There is also visitation noon Saturday and interment at the church's Memorial Garden after the 1 p.m. service.

Marrin said there are two options for those who want to make donations in his memory: the Dexter United Methodist Church and the Dexter Athletic Boosters Club, where she said a general sports scholarship fund is set up.

"He never would want anyone not to play because they didn’t have the money to play," she said.