Dr. Robert A. Ritsema

Dr. Robert (Bob) Allen Ritsema passed away April 21, 2025, at Freedom Village Inn.

Bob was born in Wichert, Illinois, on August 31, 1935. He was graduated from St. Anne High School in Illinois and earned a BA in Music from Hope College, where he also was captain of the basketball team. He went on to earn a Master of Music and a Doctor of Music Education from the University of Michigan.

During Bob’s career, he taught music and coached basketball at Portage High School. He was a professor of cello and member of the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh resident string quartet. The following 33 years were spent at Hope College, where he was a professor of music, department chair for 11 years, Orchestra and Symphonette director, and cello instructor. He also served as MIAA Hope College representative for 18 years. Bob took the Symphonette on many tours throughout the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe until retiring in 1999. He then served as visiting orchestra conductor at Calvin University for a year.

Bob was active in the music community. He was a performing member of the Early Music Ensemble of Michigan for 25 years. He conducted the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony for 22 years, taking them on tours to various countries, placing first in the Vienna, Austria, International Youth Musical Festival Competition and in the Australian National Eisteddfod in Canberra. Bob enjoyed judging solo and ensemble competitions around the US. He was also principal cellist of the Marquette Michigan Symphony and the Holland Symphony. He conducted the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Symphony Orchestra for 9 years, taking them on tour through Scandinavia and Germany. While at Blue Lake he instructed cello and conductor camps. He guest conducted Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Great Lakes Chamber, Gaylord Chamber, Holland, and Marquette Symphonies, and All State Honors Orchestras around the US.

Bob belonged to many associations, including NSOA (National School Orchestra Association), MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association), and was president of the Michigan Unit of the American String Teachers Association, and vice-chairman of the National ASTA String Competition. ASTA named him String Teacher of the Year in 1995.

Faith was very important to Bob. He served on the consistory of Trinity Reformed in Kalamazoo and Fellowship Reformed in Holland, where he directed the choir for 18 years. Later, Bob and MaryAlice joined Third Reformed Church, where he played solos and served as a greeter. He passed on the love of the Lord to all his children.

Bob had many hobbies. He and MaryAlice loved to travel. A high point was the yearly trips taken with the Redekers and TenHoeves. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in sporting and music activities. Bob was a die-hard Cubs fan and was so excited when they won the 2016 World Series. He never missed the “Boys fishing week,” an annual tradition with his sons and son in law. Bob was in many golf leagues and always played in the Hope College golf outing and made a hole- in- one on The Emerald in St. John’s. He was also an avid crossword and picture puzzler and loved gardening and growing vegetables.

Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years MaryAlice, and their children Julie (Dave) Hedges, Raymond (Mary), Mark (Chris), and Kyle. Their grandchildren are Erica (Matthew) Albertin, Jake (Bri) Hedges, Gavin, Lindsay, and Ella Ritsema, and step-grandchildren Marissa (Sean) Bowler and Hannah Lindstrom. Their great- grandchildren are Eli, Luke, and Theo Albertin, Penelope and Desmond Hedges, and Maeve Bowler. Bob is also survived by his sister Arlene (George) Muyskens and his brother Ray (Joan) Ritsema. Bob was predeceased by his parents Albert and Susie Ritsema, by his sister Nell Vriesman and her husband Dick, and by in-laws Ardale and Hazel Ferguson, Connie Klaasen and her husband Don and Revell Rayne.

Visitation will be May 2 from 4-6 pm at Dykstra Mulder Chapel on 32nd Street. A celebration of life will be held at Third Reformed Church, Holland, MI, on May 3 beginning at 12:00 pm, followed by a luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Dr. Bob Ritsema Scholarship to be used for music students at Hope College. Please send a memorial to Hope College Philanthropy Services, PO Box 9000, Holland, MI 49422 or on-line at hope.edu/give-now.

The family would like to thank the staff at Freedom Village Inn, Gentiva Hospice, The Reverend Jim Neevel, and The Reverend Dr. Ryan Boes for their loving and dedicated care of Bob and our family.