Rita Englebardt, a Westport resident for 65 years, passed away peacefully at home July 20 at the age of 101.

Rita was one of the steady, unsung presences who helped define the character of mid‑century Westport. As a columnist for The Minuteman and The Westport News under the pen name Rita Ross, she authored dozens of articles in local newspapers including an award-winning series on historic homes in Westport and their notable residents. She continued working into her late 90’s, using only her trusted vintage typewriters.

She spent decades working in several of the town’s most iconic independent businesses, including as one of the longtime managers of The Remarkable Book Shop, as well as Fillow Flowers, Daybreak Nursery, and Max’s Art Supplies. She became one of the familiar faces that residents associated with “old Westport” and the creative spirit that gave the town its unique charm.

Born Rita Rotheim in New York City in 1925, after high school she started working at the telephone company selling war bonds. Later she moved into public relations and was one of the first female managers in the male-dominated Madison Avenue advertising world.

She met Stanley Englebardt on the beach in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1948. They married a year later and moved to Westport in 1957, where they spent the next seven decades building a life, family, and community. Rita and Stan raised their children Leland and Lynn along with many dogs and cats in their homes on Webb Road and, later, on Bayberry Lane.  The Bayberry Lane home, which they designed and built in collaboration with their Westport-based friend and architect Lawrence Michaels, was featured in a 2010 exhibit at the Westport Historical Society titled Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Westport.

Rita’s love for Westport was matched by a deep affinity for Paris, where she lived and traveled extensively throughout her life. She is remembered for her passion for all things French, her signature style, and the joie de vivre she brought to her prolific hosting and dinner parties, rallying fellow volunteers to count ballots all evening, and her support for local creators and artisans. She was especially dedicated to causes around animal welfare, upholding democratic principles, and preserving a warm, eccentric, community‑centered identity in Westport. 

Rita Englebardt is survived by her children, grandsons and their spouses: Leland Englebardt (Jane Englebardt) and Lynn Riegler (Dr. Nitai Riegler): Daniel, Alexander (Sarah Clark), and Adam Riegler (Mireille Owens). 

In lieu of flowers, those sharing Rita’s love for animals can make a donation to the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR) and celebrate a beautiful moment or toast with friends and family, just as she would have loved.