by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Readers of the Newsleaders’ weekly Opinion Page may well have noticed a new guest columnist, Paul Ritzenthaler of Sauk Rapids. But long-time readers of the Newsleader will know Ritzenthaler isn’t exactly “new.” He wrote frequent guest columns many years ago for the St. Joseph and Sartell Newsleaders.
Ritzenthaler enjoys writing columns about the everyday world – the little foibles that pop up from time to time, pet peeves that annoy him, ruminations and reminiscences about the mysteries of life and sometimes penning pointed shafts aimed at political pomposities.
Ritzenthaler’s writing style is often enlivened by his somewhat manic, impish sense of humor. When asked if he would reveal his age, Ritzenthaler said quickly, “Sure, you can ask, and I’ll tell you. I’m somewhat over the age of 55, and I’m still lying about that.”
Born in Rochester, N.Y., Ritzenthaler studied liberal-arts at John Carroll University in Cleveland for a time but didn’t complete his studies. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served four years, more than three of them in England, 70 miles north of London.
He still fondly recalls how he and a friend became instant Shakespearian actors when they landed roles in an outdoor production of Julius Caesar.
“I played one of Julius Caesar’s body guards and – oh! – what lines I spoke: ‘My Lord, My Lord, My Lord, My Lord,” he recalled, laughing. “I had three or four scenes, and I said, ‘My Lord’ in each one of them. That was it.”
It wasn’t exactly the height of Shakespearian acting, but Ritzenthaler didn’t care. It was fun, so much fun, in fact, he developed a love for amateur theater and went on to direct and/or act in 55 more plays in his life, including directing Neil Simon’s stage comedy, The Odd Couple, and playing Felix in one production and Oscar in another production.
After his military service, Ritzenthaler returned home, to Rochester, where he found work in radio and TV, as an announcer and in production. A friend convinced him to move to the Upper Midwest in 1979 and there Ritzenthler landed a job in TV and radio in Fargo, including a plum job as a host for an all-night movies show.
He also did a few stints as a stand-up comic.
Currently, Ritzenthaler works part time for a radio station in Litchfield where he does sales training. A diehard lifelong baseball fan, he also announces baseball games at the Municipal Athletic Center in St. Cloud where he gets to indulge in another passion, golfing.
“Isn’t it an awful job?” he exclaimed with mock horror. “Just think, I get paid to have to watch sports, and I get to golf for free.”
Some years ago, Ritzenthaler lost the ability to speak because of a cancerous tumor.
“I learned the hard way that’s what years of smoking can do to you,” he said.
After 30 radiation treatments at the Coborn Cancer Center in St. Cloud (“God bless the Coborn Cancer Center,” he said), he can speak again, and he has his health back.
“They always say if you get old, and sit around and wait to die, death will come sooner than you think,” he said. “So I say, ‘Have fun!’ Don’t wait for death.”
Ritzenthaler has four grown children: Kari in Farming; Krista in St. Cloud; and Paul and Tom in Rochester, N.Y.
The two other current loves of his life are his pets: Dani, a Sheltie; and Tucker, a Shih-Tzu.
