SIUE Mourns Loss of Grad Student Joshua Ritter
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville community is mourning the loss of graduate student Joshua Ritter, of Columbia, who passed away Monday, Nov. 30 at Barnes Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis. He was 24.
Ritter completed his bachelor’s in business administration from SIUE in December 2019. An MBA student, he had brain surgery in July 2020 to remove several tumors. Unable to take classes in the fall, he had hoped to return to his studies during the spring 2021 semester.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Joshua Ritter’s family and friends,” said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. “Whenever a person’s full potential isn’t realized, it is absolutely heartbreaking. He will be missed.”
Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.-noon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia. A funeral mass will follow immediately at noon.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Immaculate Conception Education and Activities Center Building Fund 411, Palmer Road, Columbia, IL, 62236; or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 13523 Barrett Parkway Dr., St. Louis, MO, 63021.
Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia is managing the arrangements. A complete obituary is available at leesmanfuneralhome.com.
The following is a list of resources available to members of the campus community:
On-Campus
- To support acceptance, coping, and grieving, short-term options are available through Counseling Services, co-located with Health Services in the lower level of the Student Success Center (adjacent to the Morris University Center), suite 0222. By calling ext. 2842, Psychotherapists are available for the following:
- Crisis Support
- Individual Therapy
- Attend on-campus memorial events
- Facilitate group, classroom or team discussions/debriefings
Local Community Resources
