Mary Alma Brewer Loritsch
Dr. Mary Alma Brewer Loritsch, 74, of Salem passed away on June 16, 2024 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
A native of Virginia she was the wife of Toby Loritsch, who survives, and the daughter of David Green Brewer and Louise Odess Bise Brewer, both deceased. Mary had an extensive educational background including graduation from T.C. Williams High School in 1967, a Bachelor of Science degree from Radford College in 1972, Associated in Applied Science Radiology Technology from Virginia West Community College in 1974, a Masters of Arts in Education from Virginia Tech in 1983, and a Doctor of Education from Virginia Tech in 1995.
Mary Loritsch, Ed.D., R.T.(R), FASRT, is a retired professor and radiography program director at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke — the same program she graduated from in 1974. Dr. Loritsch has served on the Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists Board of Directors and the ASRT House of Delegates. She was appointed to and served for a decade on the first ASRT Educational Scholarship Committee. She has performed extensive committee work on a national level and is a longtime advocate for national standards for medical radiation. Known as a gifted educator, she has developed more than 70 lectures and classes over her career and has published articles in national scientific journals over her 38 years of service at Virginia Western Community College. She has presented lectures in Sweden detailing radiography practices in the United States and lectured on Swedish radiography practices to audiences in the U.S. She was named a distinguished alumni of Virginia Western Community College and outstanding alumnus of Radford University. Dr. Loritsch was appointed by Virginia Gov. Mark Warner to serve on the first Radiologic Technology Advisory Board of Virginia and was reappointed by Gov. Tim Kaine for a total service of eight years. In addition, she was elevated to the status of ASRT Fellow in 1995, named a life member of the Virginia Society of Radiologic Technologists in 2008, received the Nalley-Graves Outstanding Technologist Award from the VSRT in 2017 and awarded the status of ASRT Life Member in 2020.
A longtime congregant of New Life Presbyterian Church in Salem VA. She sang in the choir, was an elder, as well as serving on many committees. She was passionate about her faith, and she cared for and loved her church family dearly.
Later in life she started a small non profit called Treasures of the Heart, that she hand made bereavement clothing for miscarriages, premature and stillborn infants out of wedding dresses in Roanoke and Salem, Virginia areas.
Lastly in retirement, she always enjoyed jewelry and started a hand made jewelry company called MarLor Jewelry Designs where she had an online shop and would travel to many craft shows in southwest Virginia.
Mary cherished being a mother and most of all being a mimi(grandmother) to her grandchildren. In addition to her husband those left to cherish her memory are her children, Todd Loritsch, Michael Loritsch and wife Olivia Brooke; their children, Maverick David, Bowden Lane and Charleston Joan.
The family will receive friends at Lotz Funeral Home in Salem on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from Noon until 1:00 pm. A memorial service will follow in the chapel of Lotz Funeral Home at 1:00 pm with committal following in Sherwood Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to National Scleroderma Foundation or a charity of the donors choice.
