FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: Bill Ritger, 53, head of the Midwest Safety Crew, passed away this evening. Bill had been battling liver cancer since last summer. Bill managed the cornerworking group for the Midwest region CCS races since 2000. Before that he worked as a cornerworker for several years. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Claudia, his mother, siblings and other family members. Services are pending and will be announced as soon as possible. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Rainbow Hospice (rainbowhospicecare.org) or the Red Flag Fund (redflagfund.org). R.I.P. my friend, Gordon Lunde Milwaukee, Wisconsin More, from a reader: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I knew Bill, he was the first person I worked with at VIR. He and Claudia taught me a lot on my first adventure in cornerworking, and I learned something new every time after that. I know he will be missed. God Speed, my friend. Donald Franke Dallas, Georgia