WESTFIELD – Marita “Rita” or “Muzzy” (to her grandchildren) Baatz Hannigan 94, (1929-2024) died August 6TH, 2024 in the loving home she and her husband designed and built in the 1960’s.
Born in OH, Rita was the second of 6 children. As a child she and her older sister Peggy were reporters and writers for The Kendall Kids, a neighborhood newsletter that was produced and printed by their mother. It sold for a penny per edition and had a wide circulation (in the neighborhood)! In high school, she played percussion: marimba, timpani in her school orchestra and the state band of Ohio, and glockenspiel in her high school marching band. In her teens, she came to Southwick to work on tobacco as a “Pennsy Girl” and learned to swim in Lake Congamond. It was there she met and fell in love with Donald Hannigan; they were married in 1951. She was an alumna of Muskingum College and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Westfield State Teacher’s College all while raising three daughters.
Rita loved life. She was an athlete, playing tennis weekly until her mid-80s, swimming, and bicycling. She taught her own mother to swim when she was in her late 60’s. Rita won the City women’s singles tennis championship twice and loved playing doubles with her husband and many friends. The facet of her life that touched thousands of Westfield residents was teaching English for over 20 years at Westfield Junior High School and English as a Second Language at adult evening classes. Many of her students named her their favorite teacher. Rita was a lifelong learner and avid reader. She always asked her grandchildren what they were reading now. The most precious gift you could give her was a list of your favorite books. Rita was always an active member of the community. She taught Red Cross swimming lessons, was a contributing member of the Tuesday Morning Club, and was a Trustee of Noble Hospital. She was also a volunteer there, overseeing non-medical continuing education. The Episcopal Church of the Atonement played a central role in her life. She attended regularly, sang in the choir, read as a lector, and served on altar guild and the vestry. In 1980, Rita and Don became involved in training Fidelco guide dog puppies, training a total of 19 puppies in basic obedience and life skills from the age of 8 weeks to 12-18 months, when they became eligible to enter guide dog training. If you are familiar with puppies, you know that this is the most trying age! While she was still teaching, she brought the current guide dog puppy to school to learn to deal with crowds and to go “down and under” a chair to be out of the way of children and instruction.
Rita leaves two sisters, Peggy Parker and Barbie Davies, three daughters, Margaret Hannigan, Claudia (Bill) Teubl, and Kerry (Duncan) Plancon, numerous nieces and nephews, 11 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Don, sisters Sallie and Patty, brother Tom, and parents C. Mark and Margaret Baatz.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Gifts in memory of Rita’s life may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Atonement or Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.
