Lee Ritenour
Meet Lee Ritenour, WACSC Board Member and Treasurer
I was born in New York City and grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey. When I was 10 en route to Hawaii (by prop plane over the Pacific no less),we spent a few days in San Francisco and I knew right away that I wanted to live in California.
I graduated from George Washington University in 1968 with a degree in Political Science. In 1967 I married Perry Ritenour in Lexington VA. Crossed swords and all Perry. We had 2 children, Douglas and Jennifer whom I took to Okinawa (Perry was stationed there) just as it reverted to Japan. While there we spent time in Taiwan, Thailand, and Hong Kong. We didn’t pick up a lot of the Japanese language but my toddler daughter must have absorbed some because she took Japanese in college and spent 2 years in Japan teaching English.
After the tour in Okinawa, we moved to the Bay area but soon moved to Southern California for my husband’s banking career. While in SOCAL, I received my MBA with a specialty in International Finance. My career spanned 25 years with Hughes Aircraft in Orange County and subsequently Raytheon in Santa Barbara. I managed Navy and Army programs and a Manufacturing and Engineering Division. I had suppliers in Holland and Canada whom I regularly visited. I retired in 2003.
In 2007 the lure 2 of our grandchildren , Carmen and Gabriel and our daughter, Jennifer and husband Douglas (yes my son is named Douglas as is my son in law) brought us first to Sebastopol and then Santa Rosa. My son lives in Phoenix with my daughter in law, Laura and granddaughter, Serena.
Reading and sports (GO NINERS and WARRIORS) have always been passions of mine as is travel. I have been fortunate to have traveled multiple times to Europe, Asia and Southeast Asia. Until 2019, Perry was my travel companion but unfortunately he passed away.
Because of our interest in world affairs, we joined the World Affairs Council of Sonoma County (WACSC) shortly after we moved to Sonoma County.
I find the presentations, members, and Board Stimulating, thought provoking, and very enjoyable and look forward to getting back to in person events.