NORMAN E. RINGER M.D. APRIL 17, 1921 – OCT. 27, 2007 Having helped literally thousands of people into this world, Dr. Norman Edward Ringer, 86, of Modesto, peacefully left it on Saturday, October 27, 2007. A faithful Roman Catholic, Dr. Ringer practiced medicine in Modesto from 1952 to 1984. He was born April 17th, 1921 in Ione, California to Harrison and Pauline Ringer. He was a proud descendant of several original, prominent Amador County pioneer families.
A stellar student and athlete in high school, he was valedictorian of his graduating class at Ione High School and also played guard for his high school football team. Known as The Cyclone from Ione”, he left rural California to play college football at the University of San Francisco in 1938. A knee injury suffered during a game against the University of Mississippi sidelined his football career and, as he acknowledged in later years, left him more time to focus on his pre-med studies. Dr. Ringer was inspired to pursue a career in medicine when his mother was severely burned in a fire on his family’s ranch in his childhood. He graduated from U.S.F. in 1941 as an R.O.T.C. participant and went on to pursue medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Creighton in 1945. Under the rank of captain, Norman practiced radiology in the Army Air Core and was stationed at the Hamilton and San Antonio Air Fields. In 1950, shortly after leaving the service, he married Joan Alice Butler of Pasadena, California. He completed post-graduate work at the University of Chicago, and then completed a fellowship in Pathology at the Harvard University School of Medicine and the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, Massachusetts. He completed his surgical residency at the Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey. He returned to California in 1952 to begin an obstetrics-gynecology practice in Modesto. He served as chief OB/Gyn and was on the executive boards of the then Modesto City Hospital, Scenic General Hospital, Memorial Hospital, and Doctor’s Hospital. He was on the Tumor Board at the historical Stanislaus County Hospital. Over the course of his practice in the local area, Dr. Ringer brought over 6,000 babies into this world. He retired from the active practice of medicine in 1984, and was content to remain a staunch advocate of higher education for his children and grandchildren during his retirement.__Norman was an extremely passionate and strong-willed man. He believed that one must work hard to play hard.” In addition to medicine, Norman had a passion for horses. He began playing polo past the age of 45. He served as trustee at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club for over 35 years. At the time of his death he was still President of the Board of Trustees. He enjoyed playing polo at venues around the world, including England and India. In addition to playing polo, he was a major force in California’s harness horse racing scene for over 50 years. He was a skilled horseman and prided himself on the success of his Standard Bred trotters and pacers, which were bred on his ranch in Modesto for over 30 years. He remained a generous and loyal USF and Creighton alumnus throughout his life and was also a member of the Lion’s Club, Serra Club, and was a parishioner at St. Stanislaus. Also, of notable mention, is that he was one of the founding physicians of Doctor’s Hospital in Modesto, California. His life remains a role model for all those who wish to follow their dreams.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan Ringer; loving sister, Virginia Antrobus; caring children, Christina Ringer, Michael Ringer M.D., Linda Fitzmorris D.D.S., Patrick Ringer C.P.A., and Diana Ringer; nephew, Kevin Antrobus C.P.A.; daughters-in-law, Lisa Ringer and Kimberly Ringer J.D.; son-in-law, Steve Fitzmorris M.D.; adoring grandchildren, Julie Ringer, Jessica Ringer, Jennifer Ringer, Jonathan Ringer, Ryan Fitzmorris, Sean Fitzmorris, Andrew Ringer, Nicholas Ringer, Matthew Ringer, and Carolyn Ringer.
Remembrances may be made in his name for the building of a meditation room in the new St. Stanislaus Church on Maze Boulevard, Modesto, CA.