Born in Chicago. He married Jeanette Scherlock and had three children.

He opened the Lincoln Printing Company with his brother, Richard, in 1928. Robert began printing coin boards in 1937, perhaps inspired by his brother-in-law, Maurice Schurlock.

Ritterband wrote The Well-Educated Ramage: A Brief Account of the First Printing Press in California (1953) In 1975 he helped establish the History of Graphics Philately Association.

He served as president of the American Vecturist Association in 1967. Ritterband operated Armour Medallions and handled many orders for plastic tokens for AVA members.

He died in Los Angeles.