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EMERITUS BOARD
Members of the Emeritus Board
Chair
Douglas A. Ries
Emeritus Board Members
Ronald L. Aylward Patrick D. Barron John M. Bruno Julian L. Carr, Jr. James G. Castellano Ralph W. Clermont Harry P. Fabick Richard E. Fister, Sr. Donald J. Gunn, Jr. Michael H. Heinz Edward T. Hempstead Edward D. Higgins Russell H. Isaak Robert F. McCoole, Jr. Robert M. Merenda Jerry E. Ritter
e·mer·i·tus /ə'merədəs/ Retired from active service but retaining one’s title as an honor.
Four years ago, an exciting new chapter began for the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation Board of Governors with the establishment of the Emeritus Board. This endeavor was created to honor former board members and to continue their engagement with the hospital. Retiring and former members with at least nine years of board service would be invited to continue their service in an advisory capacity through this newlyformed Emeritus group.
Chaired by Doug Ries, former president of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and current member of the Board of Governors, the Emeritus Board currently consists of 16 former board members – and some past board presidents – whose knowledge, expertise and demonstrated commitment to the children of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon are of great value and benefit.
“In the past two years, we have added eight to 10 new members to the Emeritus Board, all of whom I know very well from their past years on the Board,” says Doug Ries, Emeritus Board Chair. “I consider all of them friends and colleagues, and I have the utmost respect for each one. They provide the atmosphere for thriving and challenge with new insights into our mission. I am confident that the mentorship provided will continue to be a welcome addition to the Board of Governors.”
Last fall, the Emeritus Board welcomed four new members as they retired from the Board of Governors: Mike Bruno (2001-2020), Ed Hempstead (1987-2020), Ed Higgins (1996-2020) and Jerry Ritter (1978-2020). We applaud you all for your decades of board service and your leadership in championing our mission.
EMERITUS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Jerry E. Ritter
Celebrating 42 Years of Service
Jerry had an illustrious career at AnheuserBusch that spanned 28 years until his retirement in 1996. He and wife, Peggy, are involved in a long list of nonprofits in St. Louis, but they are not driven by a need for recognition or acclaim. They give out of gratitude and humility, with the goal of helping make St. Louis a better place.
Apart from their daughters' schools, one of the first charities the Ritters were involved with in St. Louis was SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Peggy served on the Glennon Guild for many years, as well as the planning committee for the Bob Costas Benefit to support cancer services at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. Jerry joined the foundation's Board of Governors in 1978, serving as President of the Board from 2000 to 2002. He formally retired from the Board of Governors in 2020 as one of the longest-serving members of the Board. Thank you, Jerry and Peggy, for
