AUSTINTOWN — Dr. David Ritchie, the Austintown Local School District’s longest-serving member until ending his service in 2019, died Friday. He was 83.

“It’s a huge loss to not only the school district but the township,” school board President Don Sherwood said. “He was a huge part of the community.”

Ritchie, who also had the longest tenure in the state, was a mentor and offered guidance to the current board members. He began serving on the Austintown board in 1968; his last year serving as a board member was 2019.

Board member Kathy Mock said Ritchie’s experience helped him to guide board members.

“I served with him for 11 years, and I always looked to him for guidance,” Mock said. “He had a lot of words of wisdom because of his life experiences. With his long term service, he experienced all the board member jobs and he helped build our schools from what they were to what they are now.”

The schools superintendent, David Cappuzzello, said “Doc,” as he was affectionately known, will be greatly missed.

“Doc had the longest tenure of any board member in the state of Ohio and served our Austintown families for decades, always keeping our students a top priority,” Cappuzzello said. “He was also a member of many organizations in Austintown and served on various boards throughout the area. He was a true gentleman. On behalf of the board of education and our entire Austintown family, he will be greatly missed.”

Mock said Ritchie’s service was “far outreaching.”

“He has led a life of service. He was on the Salvation Army board at one time, he was a member of the Austintown Kiwanis and was also the current board president of the libraries in Mahoning County. He was very much involved,” she said.

“He was an active person in the community,” Sherwood said. “He was all about the students as a board member. He was a mentor for myself, our current members and everyone prior.”

Services will be at 6 p.m. Friday in Austintown Fitch High School Auditorium. Calling hours will be 2 to 5:45 p.m. Friday, also at Fitch auditorium. Arrangements are by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home.