Barbara & Robin Levine-Ritterman
Barbara Levine-Ritterman, 54, and Robin Levine-Ritterman, 48, have been living in a committed and loving partnership since 1989. The parents of Maya (age 12) and Joshua (age 10), they have faced a challenge unfortunately familiar to many families: Barb’s breast cancer, which was diagnosed in June, 2004.
“Barb’s illness made us treasure our relationship even more, but it also made us realize how vulnerable our family is without the legal protections of marriage,” said Robin. Robin cut back on her work schedule as a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist to help Barb, owner of a computer business, during her recovery from surgery and chemotherapy. While she continues to have regular PET screenings, Barb is currently doing well.
Barb and Robin own a home in New Haven, where their lives revolve around their children. “We go from PTO meetings to violin lessons to Tae Kwon Do classes,” said Barb. The family belongs to a reform Jewish temple and volunteers at the synagogue’s soup kitchen. They enjoy gatherings of the extended families who have supported them and who delight in Maya and Joshua.
The Levine-Rittermans have taken numerous financial and legal steps to merge their assets and gain legal security, including obtaining a civil union. They have experienced first-hand, however, that civil unions do not function the same as marriage in daily life. Barb recounts a recent medical visit at which her marital status was listed as “single” because the woman running her test did not have a place for “civil union” on the medical form. Says Barb, “It’s striking that for all the talk about how [we] have the rights of marriage, it just doesn’t function that way. It’s important that it’s a different word. If it doesn’t get carried out in all the places it matters, then what good is it?”
“We want to marry as the natural expression of our love and commitment,” said Robin. “We also want our children to grow up with the security provided to a legally married family.”