(01/5/05)

PITTER, Douglas Born January 17, 1946 in Salinas, died December 31, 2004 following open heart surgery. Doug was a loving and devoted husband of 33 years to Carol Pitter and a long time teacher to thousands of children in the Twin Hills District of Sebastopol, where he taught for 31 years. He began his teaching career at Apple Blossom Elementary School and at the time of his death was a high school teacher in the Orchard View home school program. He spent most of his career working with middle students (hundreds of whom had been given unique Pitter nicknames) at Twin Hills Middle School teaching math and computers, where he also coached volleyball, football and supervised countless field trips. He helped start the now successful Empire Volleyball club which provides athletic opportunities for young women in West County. He loved attending high school sporting events to support former students. Kids and parents came to expect his presence at basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball games.

He was a lover of good food, good movies and good books, roller coasters and Corgi dogs. A gourmet cook, a romantic traveler, a restaurant and destination connoisseur, Doug was also an accomplished handyman and advisor, who could simply fix and solve any problem, from how to reach a difficult kid to how to set a rock wall. He was a techie in the true sense of the word, teaching computers to students, running the sound system for concerts and mastering the newest technologies as they appeared. He had a booming voice that could quiet a gymnasium of unruly middle schoolers, but could also bring beauty and joy to an audience as a member of the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus. Doug was active as a volunteer for Habitats for Humanity and gave freely of his time to help families in need all over West County. Doug Pitter was maybe the last of the true renaissance men in that he would tackle any task and then master whatever he tried.

We were blessed to have his love and light for 57 years, and the world was a better place when he was in it. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Twin Hills Middle School gymnasium. A reception will follow the service at the Gold Ridge Fire Department across the street from Twin Hills. A scholarship fund has been set up in his name for Twin Hills students who graduate from West County High schools. Contributions may be sent to: Twin Hills Teacher's Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Nicole Ramondo, 700 Watertrough Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472.