Martin Blank, my cousin Marilyn's husband, just unveiled his latest work of art called "Fluent Steps".  This fantastic piece of work is located at the Tacoma, Washington Museum of Glass.   

We all wore our New York Giants tee shirts and cheered to the very end as our small but happy family Super Bowl party enjoyed a thrilling Giant victory.  It has been tough being a New York fan living up in New England but now there's something to bring a smile to our faces.  My uncle Fred, a long time season ticket holder, would have enjoyed another Giant Super Bowl victory. 

Go Big Blue!  Go Giants!

Thanks to Sally Sanders Thomas as she recently donated several photos, and a number of links to her ancestors and relatives which has helped to branch out the family tree.  Sally’s Aunt Gert had mapped out her section of the family tree and made note of an interesting young lady who in 1912 rode on horseback with her new husband from New York to California as a publicity stunt for Motion Picture Story Magazine.  Freda Cleo Helwig had married Richard (Peckover) Ridgely and took on the name “Cleo Ridgely” before she reached Hollywood to become a silent film star for Paramount Pictures.  She starred in several films directed by Cecil B. DeMille opposite leading man Wallace Reid.   Click here for more information, photos and to see where Cleo Ridgely fits into the family tree.  If you subscribe to Netflix you can check out Cleo in The Golden Chance which is part of a double feature disk still available.

William Anthony (Bill) Ritger died on January 10, 2007 after a brief struggle with cancer.  Bill is survived by his wife Claudia and his brother Robert. 

I never met Bill but I had traded a few emails with him over the years.  Bill worked with his wife Claudia in the sport of motorcycle racing.  From the outpouring of messages on the CCS Racing Forum one can quickly tell that Bill touched many lives and will be remembered by many friends and family members.  Here's Bill's self-written bio:

Bill Ritger, Director, Red Flag Fund Inc.
Bill started riding motorcycles in 1972. In 1989, while a member of the Wisconsin BMW club, a co-member, Cindi Singer talked him into helping out with a CCS road race ad Road America. He was hooked.

Bill became Tower Observer for the Midwest and Great Lakes regions of CCS in 1995. This included duties at Daytona International Speedway. In 1997 he inherited the job of Race Control and has had that job ever since. He also works as Safety Director for CCS races at Daytona.

The Midwest Safety Crew was created in 2000. As President of the club, Bill has tried to make racing safer for all. Bill hopes to contribute more to the sport by serving on the Red Flag Fund board of directors.

Funeral services for Bill will be held Saturday, January 20, 2007 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church,
413 S. 2nd Street, Watertown, Wisconsin, 53094.

Visitation 10:30 - 11:30 AM 
Service at 11:30 AM

Donations to:
Rainbow Hospice - http://www.rainbowhospicecare.org/
Red Flag Fund - www.redflagfund.org
Directly to the family - www.ccsforum.com/index.php/topic,16024.0.html

Obituary from the Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 'Daily Citizen' 

WATERTOWN - William A. Ritger, 53, of Watertown, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at his home.

A memorial service will be held n Saturay, Jan. 20, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Watertown, with the Rev. Mark Moore officiating. Family may call on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the church.

Bill was born on August 3, 1953, in Appleton, the son of Donald and Mary (Ellis) Ritger. On Jan. 4, 1975, he married the former Claudia Butterbrodt at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Beaver Dam.

Bill was a journeyman capenter working both independently and for several construction firms. He was an avid motorcyclist and enjoyed traveling the country. He was chief of flagging and communications for CCS Midwest motorcycle road races and ran race control. He was a founding member of the Midwest Safety Crew. He also was a home brewer and belonged to LAHGER, a local home brewer's group.

Survivors include his wife, Claudia; his mother, Mary Ritger, Onalaska; one brother, Robert (Ellen) Ritger, Onalaska; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Memorials to Rainbow Hospice or the Red Flag Fund.Org would be appreciated.

Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 500 Welsh Road, Watertown, is serving the family.