Donald L. Pitman, 91
December 18, 2007
Donald Lloyd Pitman, 91, passed away on Tuesday, December
18, 2007 at the Addison Gilbert Hospital after a long illness.
He was born in New York on March 3, 1916, son of the late
George and Anna (McRoberts) Pitman.
He graduated from Brooklyn Technical Polytechnic
Institute. He was a star basketball player in college. After graduation he
joined the Marine Air Corps for a short period. He then worked at
Worthington Corp. in Holyoke, in the engineering department. In 1941, he
joined the Navy and was stationed at the Glen Martin Co. as a naval aircraft
inspector. He retired from the Navy in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander.
He returned to Worthington Corp. as a Design Engineer. He
worked for a short time at Hamilton Standard in Winsor Locks, Conn., the
went to work for General Electric in Bloomfield, N.J. In 1958 he accepted a
job as chief engineer at the Newark Ohio Co. in Newark, Ohio, a manufacturer
of lawn mowers. He was there until 1968 when he moved to Nashville,
Tenn. to work at the Murray Ohio Mfg. Co. as vice president of engineering.
While at Murray he was instrumental in putting them into the lawn mower
business, and they became one of the largest producers of lawn mowers in the
country.
An avid golfer and sailor, he also restored MG and Jaguar
sports cars. When he retired, he moved to Rockport, and served on the Board
of Directors of the Rockport Golf Club and Sandy Bay Yacht Club. He was very
active with these groups and also took up carving of wooden decoys. He was
also a member of the Edward Peterson Post 98 Rockport American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Christine and enjoyed 66
years of marriage. He is also survived by his five children, Donald L. Jr.
and wife Carol of Vero Beach, Fla., Judy Pastor of Rockledge, Fla., Susan
Pitman of Rosemont, Pa., Richard Pitman and wife Carol of Nashville, Nancy
Mears and husband Eric of Rockport; grandchildren, Donald III and wife
Stephanie, Christie Kron and husband David, Michael Pitman, Allison Pastor,
Sarah Pitman, Derek and Dylan Pitman, Joshua, Timothy and Danny Mears;
great-grandchildren, Madison Pitman, Jordan and Sydney Kron and Mazi Pitman.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his
brother Robert.
ARRANGEMENTS: A memorial service will be held in
St. Mary's Episcopal Church at a later date. In lieu of flowers,
contributions may be made in his name to the Rockport Educational
Foundation, 24 Jerden's Lane, Rockport, MA 01966 designated for the music
department of the high school. Arrangements are being conducted by the
Burgess & Mackey Funeral Home, 201 Main St., Rockport.
