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Eric James Pitfick
Died: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Age: 69
Eric James Pitfick, 69, of Northport died on Nov. 17.
Eric (Rick) worked as a teenage lifeguard at Huntington beaches in the late 1950s. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1958, serving as gunner's mate and captain's phone-talker aboard the destroyer, USS Strong. After leaving the Navy, Rick briefly worked at Republic Aviation before beginning a 42-year career at Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, where he worked as an avionics technician and later as an advanced projects proposal specialist for the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft as well as other programs.
Rick was a skilled sailor, wooden boat builder, a wood carver and scrimshaw artisan, whose encyclopedic knowledge of birds and keen sense of community and concern for the environment kept him involved in many diverse groups including memberships in Mystic Seaport Museum, the Audubon Society, Northport Historical Society, Northport Waterfront Revitalization Committee, the Nature Conservancy, Nassau Gem & Mineral Club and Boy Scouts, for which he served as scout master of Troop 410 and as assistant scout master of Troop 41. Rick was active in the community to the very end of his life, and on the day he died, he was to start at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum as a docent volunteer. His love of nature was particularly typified by his own one-man project to reinvigorate the local blue bird population. He designed, built and installed hundreds of blue bird houses on numerous properties in and around the Northport area. Rick's brother, John Pitfick, developed what is now the staggered start for the Cow Harbor 10K Race. Upon his brother's death in 1986, Rick, directing the rest of the Pitfick family, relatives and friends, took over and had been organizing and setting up the race start every year since.
His unbounded enthusiasm for all things nautical began as a young man when he apprenticed at Augie's Boat Shop in the early 1950s, learning the skills of building wooden boats. From then on, it was an enthusiastic lifelong involvement. Despite Rick's broad range of activities, his life was always centered around his family, which found him engaged with his many grandchildren on numerous projects or trips. He enjoyed traveling and he took frequent vacations with them over the past few years. Last year, he and his wife, Barbara, spent several weeks in Hawaii, which he felt was nature's paradise on earth. This year found them both hiking in the French Alps. On his last morning, Rick enjoyed one of the things he liked best — a wonderful, sunny sail on Huntington Bay.
Rick was the kind of man who always jumped in to lend a hand without ever being asked, and his zest for life, generous spirit and selflessness truly made him the anchor of his family. The immeasurable void created by his passing is profoundly felt by his family and friends, and he will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Rick is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barbara Pitfick; their children, Michael Pitfick, 42, of North Plainfield, N.J., David Pitfick, 41, of Northport, and Karie Vale, 39, of Melville; and nine grandchildren.
On Friday, Nov. 20, a funeral Mass was held at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Centerport. Internment with U.S. Navy Military Honors at Calverton National Cemetery followed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in the name of Eric James Pitfick may be mailed to: VNS (Visiting Nurse Service) Hospice of Suffolk, 505 Main Street, Northport, NY 11768. Phone: 261-7200.
Arrangements entrusted to the Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home of Northport.
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