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Salla Quinn Ritzhaupt
- Published: December 7, 2023
One month before our brilliant, radiant Salla Quinn Ritzhaupt graduated with her BA in archives, summa cum laude, from her beloved Antioch College, she fell ill and was later diagnosed with the incredibly rare autoimmune disease Degos. In spite of the heroic efforts of a dedicated medical team at Miami Valley Hospital, the disease proved too aggressive. She passed Dec. 2, 2023, at Miami County Hospice, Troy Ohio, on the same UVMC campus where she was born Aug. 8, 2001.
Quinn was very active in the Antioch community as a member of both the gaming and chess clubs. She revived the school newspaper, The Record, with her dear friend Loretta Philip, as well as the infamous Camelot race. She worked at the Olive Kettering Library, where she discovered her love for archives and a true mentor in Scott Sanders. She was a resident assistant and served on the library director search committee.
Quinn is survived by her loving and proud parents, Kurt and Andi (Bertke); sisters, Zoe, Mara and Nola; paternal grandmother, Janalee (Fogt) Ritzhaupt; maternal grandparents, John Bertke and Linda Elliott (Jim); aunts; uncles; cousins; her partner, David Klasovsky; a group of the most amazing and supportive friends anyone could ask for; and “Aunt” Julie Heffner, who has been a constant in her life since birth. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Dieter Ritzhaupt.
She will be remembered by those lucky enough to know her as a gifted writer and debater, a music lover, the most loyal friend and sister who loved fiercely, and a quick-witted, hilarious woman with a contagious laugh. She was the most driven, focused person we have ever known. Quinn changed all of our lives and pushed us to be better people. We will be forever grateful for the time we had with her, even though it was too short.
A celebration of Quinn’s life will be held at a later date for friends and family. Funeral arrangements are being provided to the family through the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Quinn’s memory to naafa.org or His Hands Extended Sanctuary, 1560 Dialton Road, St. Paris, Ohio 43072. Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com.
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Quinn Loved the Antioch and Yellow Springs community. Quinn was recruited (like most of us) by her sister a alumni.
The loss of this brilliant organizer and historian will never be forgotten in most of Antioch students lifetimes. Quinn historical knowledge of all things Yellow Springs was impressive, their ability to bring different people together in a room to find a common ground with complete grace was magical. Mentor Scott Sanders encouraged Quinn’s passion, encouraged a introvert to carve out a place in the community and in return Quinn made sure everyone had a place for some oral history. If you didn’t have a chance to meet her, trust me she was the caretaker of humanity. Quinn thank you for changing my life and so many others. May they find a large library in heaven.