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Architect remembered for talents, generosity
P. Richard Rittelmann, of Butler Township, died Sunday, May 10, 2015.
Dick Rittelmann's legacy that grew from his internationally known Butler architectural firm reaches far beyond buildings, a former co-worker said.
“His greatest project was the people in the firm,” said Tom Demko, managing principal at Stantec in Butler. “He had a real gift for understanding the power of creating and executing the best teams that could execute the best possible work.”
P. Richard Rittelmann of Butler Township died of pancreatic cancer Sunday, May 10, 2015, in the VNA Inpatient Hospice of Butler, which he designed. He was 76.
Mr. Rittelmann began his career with the Howard, Burt and Hill firm in 1967, becoming a partner a decade later. By the time he retired in 2006, Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates had grown from 12 people into an international firm with more than 1,200 architects and engineers in 10 offices domestically and three overseas.
The firm merged with Stantec in 2010.
Mr. Rittelmann's first love in architectural work was energy conservation, Demko said.
“He was ahead of his time. Creating high-performance buildings to save energy was a passion,” Demko said.
Mr. Rittelmann served on the Board of Trustees for Butler County Community College. He and his wife, Jane, were the first co-chairs of the FAB Showcase fundraiser for Butler High School's Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation. A gallery in the Butler Arts Center is named for the Rittelmanns.
“He was a true Renaissance man,” Demko said. “Those who knew him outside the profession, they knew him in their own way. He was a woodworker, an operatic singer, a baritone, an artist.
“Everyone knew him from something that was amazing. Everyone's experience was that he was at the top of his game all of the time.”
Mr. Rittelmann is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Bill Rittelmann of Butler; daughters, Linda Rittelmann of Baltimore, Carrie Semanco of Mars and Leesa Rittelmann of Fredonia, N.Y.; brother, David Rittelmann; sisters, Sandra Rubin, Paulette Rittelmann and Karen Weikert; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Daniel Rittelmann.
A celebration of Mr. Rittelmann's life is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 6 at the Butler Country Club, 310 Country Club Road, Butler, with a luncheon to follow.
Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.
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