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This is the season of miracles. It’s a time for hope. A time to believe in all the possibilities, a time to reflect on our purpose here on earth, and to set our path to improving the future for ourselves and posterity. It’s a wonderful time for a story to remind us of all that. This is one of those stories.
Paul Neuer is the pastor of the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Littleton. He cares for his parish and his family and is beloved in his community.
About 40 years ago, Neuer and Bob Ritzke met while at college. They were fraternity brothers and became best friends. But Paul was on the fast track. He was married, had a job and took extra courses. Upon graduating as a musical conductor, he left for Westfield, N.J. and became a music teacher.
Rizke took his time, and followed in Neuer’s footsteps, earning his degree, also as a conductor and moving to Westfield as well where he also taught. It seemed the two would enjoy their friendship forever.
But Paul had a calling, and he entered the priesthood. After seminary, he was relocated. The friends kept in touch, sometimes writing, sending Christmas cards, but life had separated the two and it was uncertain that they would ever actually see each other again.
Time passed and Ritzke bought a vacation home in Chase City, Va., on Kerr Lake. Neuer bought a place on Lake Gaston. Neither were aware of their close proximity to each other. One day, after 40 years apart, both were returning from a weekend excursion of work on their homes, when fate brought them back together.
Ritzke related, “I was on the ferry on the second deck. I had to go to the bathroom, so I was headed that way, my head was down, and I suddenly slammed into this man. I heard him say ‘How ya doin’, guy?’ It scared me to death, and I looked up and it was Paul!”
The friends talked and promised to keep in touch, but that wouldn’t come until later. Ritzke retired to Chase City, but continued his work moving into a position in the music department with Southside Virginia Community College. He started a band, teaching students of all ages to play musical instruments, but shortly afterwards became ill – seriously ill. He required two surgeries on his brain and one on his lungs. They left him debilitated and hopeless. In the meantime, the band fell apart without Ritzka. “The brain surgery left me paralyzed, and I was tired of it,” said Ritzke. “I had decided I was going to end it, and just then the phone rang. It was Paul.”
Neuer told him that he wanted to come and visit, unaware of Ritzke’s decision to end it all. “If Paul had waited just a few minutes later to call, my wife would have had to tell him that they were putting me in a pine box, because I was done.”
Neuer did visit with Ritzke, and the friendship was rekindled. Ritzke gained hope and worked to regain his mobility and strength. As he grew stronger, he re-formed the band, calling it the Southside Winds. They practice at the First Baptist Church in South Hill, Va., and Ritzke dedicates himself to providing free music lessons to young people in the area. “If they want to learn, I’m happy to teach them,” he said.
Recently, Ritzke, Neuer and the Southside Winds performed together at the Lakeland Singers Christmas Concert. The two were overjoyed. Both men are now well into their 70s. They said that working together in music makes them both happy. “We mostly do it for fun now,” said Neuer. “We’re doing retirement together,” said Ritzke.
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