In Remembrance: Gerald K. Pitcher ’59 Died on October 18 2020

Gerald Kennedy Pitcher, Y’59, died peacefully on October 18, 2020, with his wife of 26 years, Kathy Diehr Pitcher, and his two daughters, Debbie Steele and Leslie Henebry, at his side. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Bailey and Kristen Steele; two sons-in-law, Rick Steele and Mark Henebry; and two cousins.

Gerry was born to Frances Kennedy Pitcher Davis and Gould Simmons Pitcher on October 29, 1937, in Danielson, Connecticut, where he graduated from Killingly High School. He majored in mechanical engineering at Yale, graduating in 1959, and was in Naval ROTC. He received an MS in engineering from Columbia University.  

After serving in the Navy, Gerry worked as an engineer at several firms in New England, notably North American Phillips Labs (Briarcliff Manor, New York), living in Westchester. He held other positions at Honeywell (Needham, Massachusetts)  and  Bristol Myers (Stamford, Connecticut).

In the 1990s, he moved to his Quonnie beach house in Charlestown, Rhode Island, and worked at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport until retirement in 2001. After retirement, he and Kathy moved to South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Gerry was a lifelong sports car enthusiast, starting with a Triumph TR3 at Yale. He excelled at tennis and paddle tennis, was an expert woodworker, and traveled across the country pursuing his avid interest in bird watching. 

Although he was afflicted with Alzheimer’s during the last several years, he never lost his gentle spirit, good humor, and acceptance of life’s challenges. He was 82 years old.

An obituary with photo appeared in the Providence Journal on October 21, 2020.

—Submitted by the family.