Ann B. Ritt, 79, benefactor of arts and Jewish museum

Ann Hermine Brenner Ritt, 79, formerly of Haverford, a patron of the arts and Jewish institutions, died of pneumonia Wednesday, Oct. 6, at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mrs. Ritt, a trustee of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, had been involved with the museum since its early years more than three decades ago, said Gwen Goodman, the museum's director emerita.

"Ann was an early and strong supporter of the capital campaign to build a new museum," Goodman said, "and even though she had been ill, she was looking forward to attending its opening next month. She said nothing would keep her from coming."

Mrs. Ritt formerly served on the board of the Academy of Vocal Arts and was active with the Opera Guild in Philadelphia. She established scholarships for aspiring artists and served on boards and committees and in advisory positions to arts organizations in Philadelphia and Arizona.

Mrs. Ritt graduated from Upper Darby High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in New York. She and her future husband, Stephen A. Ritt Sr., met at Hebrew school at Keneseth Israel Synagogue, then in North Philadelphia, when they were 13. They married in 1950 and raised three children.

Through tragedy, Mrs. Ritt stepped into the business world.

Her husband had pursued business interests and in the 1970s had become chairman and chief executive officer of W.A. Butler Co., a supplier of veterinarian products. When he died in 1986, their son, Stephen Jr., took over the company, based in Ohio. After Stephen Jr. died in 1998, Mrs. Ritt served as Butler's chairwoman until 2003.

She donated the Stephen A. Ritt Family Atrium and the Stephen A. Ritt Jr. Cantor Study at Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood.

Mrs. Ritt studied art at the Barnes Foundation and collected French Quimper pottery, Southwestern art, sculpture, native pottery, and jewelry.

For 10 years, she wintered in Scottsdale before moving there in 2005.

She played Mama in her high school production of I Remember Mama, and the role defined her life, her family said. She never allowed illness, adversity, or geography to keep her from staying involved with grandchildren and old and new friends, they said.

Mrs. Ritt is survived by a son, Daniel; a daughter, Susanne Nichol; a brother; and three grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Trevose.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Department of Development, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Ariz. 85259, to establish the Ann B. Ritt Visiting Professorship in Surgery.