Naomi Ritz, an artist, costume designer and widow of comedian Harry Ritz of the Ritz Brothers, has died. She was 87.
Good friends with Frank Sinatra, Ritz died Aug. 31 at her home in Pinyon Crest, California, her daughter Janna Ritz Taninbaum announced.
Naomi and Harry married at their Beverly Hills home on Nov. 21, 1965 (she was his fourth wife), and she traveled with her husband, made costumes for him and humorously described herself as his valet. They spent lots of time during the early years of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and were together until his death in March 1986 at age 78.
The youngest and last surviving member of the Ritz Brothers, Harry, with his brothers Al and Jimmy — their real last name was Joachim — made up a zany comedy team whose celebrated career stretched more than 50 years, from vaudeville and Broadway and Fox and Universal films to nightclubs, television and Vegas.
Sid Caesar once called Harry “the funniest man of his time,” and in a 1985 interview, Mel Brooks said: “In my mind, the word ‘genius’ should be reserved for one person — Harry Ritz.”
From left: Harry Ritz, Al Ritz and Jimmy Ritz — The Ritz Brothers — in 1939’s ‘The Gorilla.’
Courtesy Everett Collection
Naomi Leon was born in Hollywood on May 31, 1939. Her father, Freddie, was a bandleader during World War II with roots in vaudeville, and her mother, Zare, was an independent businesswoman. Her folks eventually operated a prop warehouse that served the film industry.
She grew up in Vegas in the early 1950s and came of age among the hotels, theaters, nightclubs, performers and musicians in town. She first met Harry through her dad, who knew him through their vaudeville-era circles.
For about 30 years, she made her home in Pinyon Crest, a mountain retreat near Palm Desert that was built by Sinatra in 1970 as a private escape for family and friends. He dubbed her home “Villa Maggio” as a tribute to Pvt. Angelo Maggio, the character he portrayed in his Oscar-winning turn in From Here to Eternity (1953).
Ritz studied art and art restoration in Santa Monica and was a designer, collector and animal lover who rescued, cared for or found homes for more than 60 dogs.
“Naomi was funny, charming, strong-willed, wonderfully particular and, at times, challenging,” her daughter said. “Mention an old Hollywood movie, however, and everything could change. She knew the films, the actors and the stories and could play the game of ‘who was in what’ endlessly — and usually win.
“She leaves behind an eye for beauty, a fascination with the past, a house full of stories and collections, an enduring love of animals and a wonderfully individual way of seeing the world.”
Donations in her memory can be made to Bet Tzedek Legal Services or WISE & Healthy Aging, supporting their work to protect older, vulnerable adults from abuse, exploitation and injustice.
