Rita Polumbo Bleecker OBITUARY

Rita Polumbo Bleecker OBITUARY

Rita Polumbo Bleecker peacefully ed away with family by her side on April 3, 2025. She was born March 8, 1931 in Huddleston, Virginia to Angelo Nicola (Nick) and Bertie Polumbo.

The youngest of seven children, Rita spent her early childhood in Huddleston before moving to Norfolk, Virginia at the age of six. After high school she attended Norfolk College of William and Mary. A trip to Coronado, California to visit her sister led to her moving there permanently. It was in Coronado where she met and married Jim, her beloved husband of 59 years. In the early 1960s Rita and Jim moved to Rancho Santa Fe where they raised their three daughters.

Faith, family and community were the cornerstone of Rita’s life. She was very active in the Rancho Santa Fe Village Church where she served as a Deacon, an Elder and a Stephen Minister. Rita devoted many years of community work to organizations such as the Beach and Country Guild ing United Cerebral Palsy in San Diego, Voices for Children and the Library Guild of Rancho Santa Fe. A talented writer, she wrote a weekly column, “Rancho Santa Fe Scene”, in the local paper profiling life and people in the Ranch.

After Jim retired Rita enjoyed their many travels together and endless time with her grandchildren who affectionately called her Mimi. Rita also enjoyed spending time with her daughters and her sons-in-law whom she liked to think of as her “sons-in-love.” Rita enjoyed all the trappings of family life with her fondest memories being of all the family gatherings over the years.

Rita was a bright light in each life she touched. She had a caring heart that brought love, joy, humor and connection to all. She will be dearly missed and warmly ed as a gracious and inspiring wife, mother, grandmother and cherished friend to many. Rita is survived by her daughters, Suzi Vertullo and husband Mark, Margie Bay and husband David, Holly Wilkey and husband David, and six grandchildren. Rita was preceded in death by her husband, James Bleecker, parents, Nicola and Bertie Polumbo, sisters Anne Lohmann, Glennie Ashwell, Iva Hancock, Lettie Pickrell, Mae Ford, and brother Harry Polumbo.