Obituary of Dr. Galen Blaine Ritchie

Delmar – Dr. Galen B. Ritchie

Dr. Galen Blaine Ritchie died suddenly at his home on Friday, November 10, 2023.

Born and raised in Rochester, NY on June  3, 1935 he was the son of the late Dr. William Ritchie and Beatrice (Fisher) Ritchie.   Dr. Ritchie and his parents moved to Delmar in 1949.  He graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in 1954, and received his BA degree cum laude from Colgate University, his MA from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Ph. D. from Columbia University, where he was an International Fellow at the School of International Affairs. 

Dr. Ritchie was an assistant professor of Russian and European history at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, and at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.  He also taught history and social studies and served as assistant headmaster, principal, and dean at private, independent high schools in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  Dr. Ritchie was also employed as a field archaeologist by the National Park Service.

Dr. Ritchie was a member of many local, national and international associations and societies, a life member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (member of the Col. George L. Willard Camp #154, SUVOW, Albany, New York), a communicant of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and a lifelong member of the Republican Party.  Dr. Ritchie’s marriage to Valeria Smith was dissolved in 1980, and he is survived by 6 cousins. 

Funeral Services will be held 1:00pm Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 16 Elsmere Ave. Delmar, NY 10254.  There will be a visitation at the church from12:00 to 1:00pm before the service.

Interment will be in Bethlehem Cemetery, Delmar.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Ritchie’s memory may be made to the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Rd. Delmar, NY 12054