Stillman Donald "Don" Pitts

Rexford, NY-Stillman Donald Pitts ("Don"), born on January 8, 1931, in Albany, New York, passed away on August 9, 2024. He was the cherished son of the late Stillman Miller Pitts and Katherine Snyder and spent his early years in the Capital Region until 1952, when he began his lifetime of adventure. Don was the beloved husband of his high school sweetheart, the late Flora Adele Stodart, with whom he shared 67 years and a lifetime of cherished memories. A proud graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, Don went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. We enjoyed hearing him reminisce about his formative years in Albany, where he enjoyed traveling to New York Yankees games with his father and spending time at his father's Miss Albany Diners. Don served his country with honor as a United States Naval officer during the Korean War, stationed aboard the USS Quincy. Don enjoyed a long and successful career as an executive with ALCOA Aluminum and later with the Aluminum Association of America. His work took him across the country and around the globe, living in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Recife, Brazil, and Washington, D.C., before eventually settling in retirement on Lake Keowee in Upstate South Carolina. Affectionately known as "Moose" by those who knew and loved him, Don had a lifelong passion for gardening, with a particular talent for cultivating blueberries. He was a lifelong learner, always curious and asking questions about anything new to him. A voracious reader, Don also found great satisfaction in studying and trading on the stock market. In his later years, he discovered a love of baking, especially crafting delicious pies. Don and Flora shared a love of travel, embarking on adventures that took them across Europe, South America, Australia, and the Caribbean. An accomplished boater and sailor, Don loved his time on the water, where he felt the most at ease . Above all, Don treasured his family and friends, holding them close in his heart and fondly recalling the many memories they shared. Don's life was marked by his dedication to his family, his work, and his diverse interests, leaving behind a legacy of love, intellect, and quiet accomplishment. Don was predeceased by his wife, Flora, his parents, his sister Nancy Osterhaut, and most recently his son in law Jim Stilwell. Don is survived by his devoted children and grandchildren: daughter Cynthia Evans, daughter Jenifer Eitelberg (husband Georg); son Timothy Pitts (wife Gwen); son Daniel Pitts (wife Rebecca); grandchildren Christy Pitts, Rachel Pitts (Andrew Sciocchetti), Maggie Gardner (husband Brett), Meredith Evans (Drew Cattell), Andrew Evans, Jessica Eitelberg (Carlos), Linda Eitelberg, Paul Eitelberg (Tinha Oehl), great grandchildren Kyra and Jake Eitelberg and his sister Patricia Dower. He is survived by a large number of extended family that he was deeply devoted to and who adored him. The family looks forward to greeting friends and extended family at McVeigh Funeral Home at 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206 Friday, August 16, 2024 at 11:00 am followed by his Funeral Service at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Oconee County Humane Society, P.O. Box 966, West Union, SC 29696 where his beloved dog Black Jack was adopted. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

Tributes

Stillman Donald "Don" Pitts

January 8, 1931 - August 9, 2024