During the Montecito mudslides last year, Rittner and his family became stuck in their home.
When a barefoot firefighter appeared, Rittner gave him a pair of his own sneakers - never expecting to see them again.
Five months later, Rittner came home to find the shoes and a thank you note on his porch, as well as a gift card.
Rittner wants to thank him instead.
"I'd shake his hand, buy him a meal and a beer and buy him a gift certificate to something because that dude did far more than I did handing out a pair of shoes," Rittner said.