Carl Edward Ritchey

Carl Edward Ritchey, 90, of Oshawa, passed away suddenly on Friday, December 3rd, 2021 after a week surrounded by family. Carl was born on June 25th, 1931, in Regina, Saskatchewan. An exceptionally sharp academic from an early age, he started Canadian University College in Alberta at just 17 years old. He continued his education to include a Bachelor’s of English from Queen’s University and a Master’s of Education from the University of Toronto. Carl met his wife Verna Jones in high school and they married in 1950, having six children together. Carl was the quintessential Renaissance Man; he was a master flapjack flipper, a natural-world enthusiast, a world traveller, and a self-made genealogist and historian. He was someone who understood music and literature on a spiritual level, and shared that love with those who surrounded him even in his last days. He was the rare combination of academic and athlete, of sincere and humorous; and his passion for education filled a bountiful career that impacted the lives of many. Carl’s career was nothing short of monumental. Beginning as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Silver Creek, British Columbia, he then taught at Oshawa Missionary College (now Kingsway College) and worked as the principal at the affiliated elementary school. He was a teacher at Dr. S.J Philips Elementary School and taught science at Ridgeway Public School while ‘side-gigging’ as a taxi driver, working at Oshawa Dairy Ltd. on Sundays, and teaching English to new Canadians at Oshawa Central Collegiate Institute. In 1967, he joined the Durham Board of Education as their audio-visual consultant and Curriculum Officer. Carl was also a highly respected Chairman and Board member for the Oshawa Symphony Orchestra (now Ontario Philharmonic). In 1997, Carl married long time friend Roberta (Bint) White, and they spent 25 beautiful years trotting the globe, making memories with family and friends, and wintering in Florida. In recent years, Carl spent his days shouting out the Jeopardy answers long before the contestants, listening to music, reading favourite poems, and regaling everyone with tales of his adventurous childhood and teenage shenanigans. Carl was predeceased by wife Verna, daughter Jacqueline, and siblings Donald, Roland, John, Joe (Roy),Hazel, and Marla. He is survived by wife Roberta and children Carla-Lynn and Bob Brown, Doug Ritchey, Linda Ritchey, Rhonda Nicholson, Keith McGuigan, Kimberly and Peter Hammermueller, and Kelly-jane and Robert Scott, along with thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and numerous loving friends. Carl will be remembered because he was the rare type who remained your beloved teacher long after you’ve left the classroom; as the greatest father, husband, papa, friend, and storyteller you had ever met. He will be greatly missed. A graveside service will be held Thursday, December 9th, at 2:30 PM at Thornton Cemetery and Funeral Centre (1200 Thornton Road North, Oshawa). A Celebration of Carl’s life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you instead donate to Ontario Philharmonic or the ADRA Canadian Projects.