Citadel Alumni Obituaries

Henry W. Rittenberg, M.D., of Charleston, died April 22, 2012. The relatives
and friends of Henry and Sara Rittenberg are invited to attend the funeral
services of the former at BSBI Maryville Cemetery on Sycamore Avenue,
Monday, April 23, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. Henry Woodrow Rittenberg, M.D., 94, died
April 22, 2012 at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community. He was born in
Charleston on January 6, 1918, the son of the Sadie Livingstain Rittenberg
and the Honorable Samuel Oscar Rittenberg. He was proudly educated in the
Charleston County Public Schools-an honor graduate of James Simons School
and the High School of Charleston, where he received a highly distinguished
Classical-Scientific Diploma. After the death of his father in January 1932
and his mother in December of that year, he and his brother Alvin lived with
their great uncle Harris Livingstain above his store at 438 King Street.
Henry was able to continue his education by winning a City of Charleston
scholarship to The Citadel-one of his proudest achievements and fondest
affiliations. At The Citadel, dejected by the loss of his parents and the
sense that he could not afford his childhood dream of attending medical
school, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. At The
Citadel, Henry earned the nickname of “Blossom” for his emergence into
leadership roles serving as a Cadet Captain, Editor of the student
newspaper, associate editor of the magazine and yearbook, and as a member of
the honor society. Following graduation from The Citadel, he went to work
for Greenwood Cotton Mill. In Greenwood, he became very involved in the
community. He co-founded the Greenwood Junior Chamber of Commerce. He
unsuccessfully sought election to the S.C. House of Representatives. He
served on the state Jaycees Board of Directors and had risen to
President-Elect when he resigned at the onset of World War II. From 1942-46,
he served in the United States Army. He received field artillery training at
Ft. Hood, Texas and served in the Coast Artillery defending Boston Harbor.
In Europe, he served with the 549th Field Artillery Battalion that was
attached at different times to the Ninth U.S. Army, the Second British Army,
and the First Allied Airborne Army. He served in the Rhineland and Central
Europe Campaigns and was recommended for battlefield promotion for action
under fire in the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket. He received the American
Theater Medal, European Theater Medal with two battle stars, German
Occupation Medal, Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal with knot for a
second award. Before departing Europe, he earned a Certificate in French
Culture and Civilization from the University of Paris (The Sorbonne).
Following his discharge from the Army, Henry moved to Branchville, SC to
help his aunt and uncle care for his brother Milton Pearlstine and to help
them run their pharmacy. When the pharmacist retired, Henry commuted to
Columbia to earn his Pharmacy degree summa cum laude and was the first honor
graduate from the University of South Carolina. He would stay up all night
to stock the store and return to Columbia to attend school at USC. He earned
the highest score ever recorded on the pharmacy licensure examination. After
completing pharmacy school, the GI Bill allowed Henry to pursue his real
professional dream of attending medical school. He entered the Medical
College of South Carolina in 1952 at the age of 34-the oldest medical
student they had enrolled up to that time. While taking an accelerated
curriculum to finish a semester early, he was first in his class and class
president. Following graduation, he served his internship at Indianapolis
General Hospital. He then joined his brother Alvin L. Rittenberg in North
Charleston. The two of them covered their North Charleston practice 24/7
until their retirement nearly 30 years later. Within months of returning to
Charleston, Henry entered upon a whirlwind romance with his childhood
friend, the former Sara Zucker Mescon, and they were married April 12, 1957.
Henry’s greatest pride was his family. He recently said that he felt the
best part of his life began when he married Sara. He was grateful that he
had the chance to have a family late in life. He filled the role of loving
and involved father and grandfather long before it was expected. Henry loved
people and talking. His long list of involvement and affiliation reflects
both a commitment to his community and joyous opportunity to make and talk
to friends. He was co-founder of the Kiwanis Club of North Charleston, Crime
Stoppers of Charleston, the Trident Technical College Foundation, and the
Lowcountry Phi Beta Kappa Association. He took pride in helping to establish
the Gold Corps Weekend at The Citadel. He served as President of the Medical
University of South Carolina Alumni Association. He was a member of Brith
Shalom Beth Israel Congregation, Synagogue Emanu-el, the Jewish Community
Center, B’nai Brith, the Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Charleston
Christian-Jewish Council, and the Hebrew Orphan Society. He was a member of
a half dozen state, local, and national medical organizations. He was a
Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was a member of the
Elks (BPOE 242), Friendship Lodge #9, Scottish Rite (32?), Omar Shrine
Temple, Downtown Athletic Club, Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce, The
Citadel Alumni Association and Brigadier Club, the Greater USC Alumni
Association, U.S. Navy League, Air Force Association, Hibernian Society, the
Charleston Computer Club, and the Charleston Lions Club. In retirement,
Henry received the Alumnus of the Year Award from the Citadel Alumni
Association in 2001. That same year, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of
Medical Science degree from The Citadel. Henry is survived by his wife of 55
years, Sara Zucker Rittenberg; his children, Dr. Harriett Rittenberg
Steinert of Charleston, SC, Dr. Libby Rittenberg and her husband Dr. Nasit
Ari of Colorado Springs, CO and Dr. Charles Rittenberg of Charleston, SC;
his grandchildren Leslie Elizabeth Steinert of Charleston, SC, Joanna
Steinert Wingate and her husband Robert Wingate of Murrell’s Inlet, SC, Dr.
Mim Ari and her husband J. Benjamin St. Clair of Denver, CO, Nisa Ari of New
York City, NY, Rachel Barbara Rittenberg of Charleston, SC and Rebecca Alice
Rittenberg and her husband Shmuel Dabush of Charleston, SC; and his
great-grandchildren Jacob Andrew Wingate and Benjamin Ryan Wingate of
Murrell’s Inlet, SC. Henry was predeceased by six siblings, his
daughter-in-law Dr. Bethe Rittenberg, and his son-in-law Dr. N. Steven
Steinert. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the
Henry Rittenberg Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation at 635 Rutledge
Avenue #201, Charleston, SC 29403 (www.coastalcommunityfoundation.org) or
the . Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. A memorial
message may be written to the family by visiting our website at
www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at
www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston.