Rita (Krim) Heimann, 80, of Manchester, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, art educator and noted collector of American Art, died on Saturday, March 10, 2012, after a valiant battle with a formidable illness. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1932 to Myer and Bess (nee Solomon) Krim. She received a degree in Nutrition and Diet Therapy in 1954 from Simmons College and went on to a dietetic internship at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center. Later she received a Masters Degree in Science Education from the University of Hartford. Rita held several positions in nutrition and diet education in Connecticut; she was the Director of School Food Service for the Windsor Public School System and nutrition consultant to the East Hartford Superintendent of Schools. Rita spent the past 15 years sharing her passion for art; she was a much admired docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum where she was President of the Auerbach Library Associates and Co-Chair of the Atheneum Associates. In addition, Rita was a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Britain Museum of American Art. Her personal collection of paintings was showcased in a 2007 exhibit there: “150 Years of American Art.” She was a member of Beth Sholom B’nai Israel of Manchester and a past president of the Manchester Chapter of Hadassah. Rita is survived by her husband, retired Manchester radiologist, Walter Heimann, daughter, Gail Heimann McMillan, son-in-law, Robin McMillan and granddaughters, Madeleine and Lily McMillan. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 12:00 noon at the Temple Beth Sholom Memorial Park, Autumn St., Manchester with Rabbi Richard Plavin officiating. Donations in Rita’s name may be made to the Wadsworth Atheneum Docent Corps Memorial Fund, 600 Main St., Hartford 06103. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Rita, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.