John Ritzert, 89; Longtime Defense Official

John Edward "Jack" Ritzert, 89, a Defense Department division chief who was knowledgeable about federal and defense information security programs, died of congestive heart failure Feb. 4 at his home in Lewes, Del. He was a longtime resident of Fairfax City and Lewes.

Mr. Ritzert's career with the federal government began in 1943, when he joined the Office of Strategic Services. He remained with the successor of the OSS, the Central Intelligence Agency, until 1961, when he began working for the Air Force. During this time, he played a key role in the review of government security policies that were critical in the establishment of commercial flights between the United States and the Soviet Union.

His assignments included trips throughout the United States and to Asia and Europe. He also lived on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

Mr. Ritzert received the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal from Secretary of Defense Harold Brown.

Mr. Ritzert's knowledge of federal information security programs led to "significant contributions to the development of Executive Order 12065, 'National Security Information,' " the citation said. The order relates to the classification and declassification of national security documents.

Mr. Ritzert retired in 1980. He was chief of the requirements and evaluation division of the Directorate Information Security in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

He continued to work with the Department of Defense until 1985 as chairman of the Appeal Board for the Directorate for Industrial Security Clearance Review.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and his family moved to Washington in the late 1920s. He graduated from Gonzaga College High School in 1936. He attended Georgetown University and graduated from Catholic University's Columbus School of Law in 1941. He practiced law before joining the OSS.

He had a lifelong love of traveling, fishing, boating, music and good food and was a voracious reader.

In retirement, he traveled to Europe, Ohio, Florida, New England and Louisiana, where he and an elementary school classmate and their wives enjoyed a road trip through the bayou.

Another highlight of his retirement was joining a son in driving a relative's Porsche from San Francisco to Washington. They toured the California coast, the Grand Canyon at sunrise, Indian sites and other destinations.

Mr. Ritzert was a member of the Zane Grey Society. He was a parishioner at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Fairfax for more than 50 years.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Mary Elizabeth Cleary "Betty" Ritzert of Fairfax City and Lewes; five children, John E. Ritzert Jr. of Fairfax Station, Christopher D. Ritzert and Timothy A. Ritzert, both of Washington, Gerald M. Ritzert of Fairfax, and Teresa A. Ritzert of Charlottesville; and six grandchildren.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb