On November 6, Roman Ryterman, at the wonderful age of 93, passed from this world.
Roman was born in Biesko, Poland on July 30, 1929, to Wilhelm Rittermann, a native of Kraków, and Hancia Goldberg, from the small town of Milówka. His parents had an arranged marriage. His brother, Henryk, was six years older. When he was young, he moved to Biesko’s twin city Biała, where he enjoyed a wonderful childhood, surrounded by a large extended close-knit family. He spent the summers with his grandparents and his many cousins in Milówka, where his grandparents owned a hotel and general store. The family business was a brush factory, where his father and uncles all worked. Roman said that, in the 1920s, two of his uncles had cars, and a popular song was written about them. Life was good.
Roman is a holocaust survivor, with a most unusual story. In 1939, after the partition of Poland, his parents were charged by the Soviets with being “bourgeoisie.” Roman, along with his father, mother, and brother, was sent to a labor camp in Siberia. Roman’s father passed away the first winter, due to a heart attack from hard labor and starvation. Roman, his brother, and mother survived, and were freed in 1941. Unable to return to Poland because of the war, they trekked to Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Conditions were difficult, and Roman’s brother died of typhus shortly after they arrived. Roman’s mother supported them by working on the black market, risking her life delivering kosher meat (which was illegal) to the Jewish community. She sold her only winter coat to buy tefillin for Roman for his Bar Mitzvah, which he saved and passed down to his grandsons.
After the war ended, Roman and his mother returned to Poland, then were refugees in France and Germany. Once, Roman was separated from his mother. He made a promise to God that he would wrap tefillin every day if he would be reunited with his mother, a promise that he kept until almost the end of his life. One of his fondest memories was in Paris, where, as a member of Betar (the youth branch of Likud/Herut), he was asked to be a bodyguard during a visit by Menachem Begin. Eventually, Roman and his mother qualified to come to the United States under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. While most of Roman’s extended family successfully emigrated to the US or Mexico, his grandparents perished in the concentration camp, Treblinka.
Roman arrived in New York City in 1950 on a Liberty Troop Ship, the USS General M. B. Stewert, now moored on the James River. He remembers seeing NYC at night, all lit up. He felt he was coming to the promised land, where he would be able to continue his education and eventually own his own business. One of the few cherished possessions he brought with him was a Leica camera, which he used for many years to document his new life.
Roman was very proud to be an American and a veteran. He served two years, beginning in 1953, in US Army Intelligence as a linguist. Once he was denied leave to visit his mother. He showed his superior a picture of himself, taken with President Eisenhower, claiming that he was the President’s interpreter while he was commander-in-chief of the armed forces in Europe, and that he would be called to the White House to serve. His superior was skeptical, until Roman was later sent to Fort Meade near Washington, DC, while his entire battalion was sent to Korea. The picture, which he always carried, was actually with a statue of Eisenhower taken at a wax museum. Roman was also in senior leadership positions in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for more than 50 years. He owned a boat that he loved to captain, and had many adventures sailing on the Chesapeake with his friends.
Roman met the love of his life, Bobbie Krieger, at a Purim celebration for US servicemen in 1954. Bobbie was shy, but took the chance to strike up a conversation with Roman. She looked at his shoes, remarked how shiny they were, and asked if this is what was called, in military jargon, a “spit shine.” When Roman asked her for her telephone number, Bobbie gave him her home number, her father’s drugstore number, and the name of her father, Max Krieger—just to be sure he could contact her. They got engaged on January 3, 1955, were married on October 27 at Beth Jacob Synagogue, and went on their honeymoon in Miami. Bobbie’s parents, Max and Minnie Krieger, loved him like a son.
As a refugee, Roman dreamed of getting an excellent education, and was fortunate to attend Johns Hopkins, to study business and accounting. He opened five retail stores with his partner, Edgar London, selling men’s clothing. He often said that he and Edgar got along so well that they never had a disagreement in all their years in business together. Throughout his adult life, he also worked as a CPA, for a firm owned by Bobbie’s cousin, Martin Kamerow. He was always grateful for the kindness of the Kamerow family.
Roman loved to say he was blessed with a few best friends, especially Ozio Guc and Stanley Fradkin. He also deeply loved his cousin, Hilek Zyskind, who was a surrogate father to him, especially after the war. Their families were always part of his family.
Roman enjoyed telling stories about his life. One of his favorite stories was how his family got the name of Rittermann. According to his father, one of his ancestors fought against Napoleon with the Austrian army. He distinguished himself in the battle at Austerlitz, and his bravery was noticed by the Emperor. He was offered knighthood for his valor, with the stipulation that he must convert to Christianity. He declined the offer. The Emperor wanted to reward him anyway, so he gave him the name of Rittermann, which translates from German to a man (mann) who is a knight (ritter). At that time, Jews did not have a last name. Roman thought that there must be some truth to this story, since the name is quite rare.
In the final years of his life, Roman suffered from dementia, but found joy through the truly incomparable loving care of his caregiving team, led by Pam Avery Hull.
Roman is survived by his wife, Bobbie. Roman has two daughters, who he cherished beyond measure, and he loved their spouses as his own children. His older daughter Randi is married to Tim Taccardi, and they have two sons, Zak and Jake Taccardi. Roman was a doting grandfather, and took pride in coming to visit his grandsons in Virginia every week to take them to Hebrew School and to sporting events. He often recalled with pride the day that he travelled twice from Baltimore to Northern Virginia, so that his grandson Jake could recover a baseball mitt that he left in his Zeyde’s car earlier that day.
Roman’s younger daughter, Sharon, is married to Mindy Milstein, and they have two children, Ben and Katy Schuman, a daughter-in-law Dani Schuman and son-in-law John Clemens and four grandchildren, Joey and Wren Schuman and Sam and Max Clemens. On Sharon’s and Mindy’s first anniversary, Roman called them to wish them congratulations. Mindy asked him if he was truly happy to see them together. Roman laughed and said, “Look, I have a son-in-law who is the wrong religion and a daughter-in-law who is the wrong sex. All I want is to see my children happy.”
Roman is now with his loving parents, Wilhelm and Hancia Rittermann; his brother Henryk Rittermann, his in-laws Max and Minnie Krieger; his grandson, Jake Taccardi; his cousin, Hilek Zyskind; his cousin-in-law, Martin Kamerow; his business partner, Edgar London; and his best friends, Ozio Guc and Stanley Fradkin.
His memory will definitely be a blessing. Roman has written a book about his life, which will soon be available for those who would like to know more about this amazing man.
Services will be held at Sol Levinson & Bros, 8900 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD on Wednesday, November 9, at 1 pm, followed by interment at Beth El Cemetery.
The family will be in mourning at 6350 Red Cedar Place, Apt. 410, Baltimore, MD. 21209, Wednesday after the funeral, Thursday 12-7 pm, Friday 12-3 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Roman’s memory may be sent to:
● Minnie & Max Krieger Memorial Scholarship Fund at Beth El Congregation https://www.bethelbalto.com/form/congregation-funds
● Holocaust Survivors Program at Jewish Community Services https://jcsbalt.org/donate/
● Jake Taccardi YMCA Fund https://ymcadc.org/jaketaccardi/