ROBERT MERRITT QUITTNER

About

University of California Los Angeles

ROBERT QUITTNER Obituary

QUITTNER, ROBERT MERRITT Oct. 8, 1929 to Nov. 16, 2012 Warm, smart and well-known for his offbeat sense of humor, Robert Merritt Quittner passed away on November 16, 2012 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in New York City, Bob's family moved to Sierra Madre, California in 1931. Bob served as a photographer's mate in the U.S. Navy where he began his career in writing, photography and teaching. He worked at Mare Island Naval Station as a shipyard photographer, attended Vallejo Junior College, UC Santa Barbara where he earned a BA in Sociology, and UCLA where he earned his MA in Theater Arts. His writing and photography career included newspapers, magazines, documentary films and taking photographs that grabbed the eye and the heart. Bob worked for the Navy as a civilian photojournalist and filmmaker and for General Dynamics' cinematography department. He taught photography in various venues. Active in the Navy Reserve, Bob retired from the USN-R in 1989 as a chief warrant officer (CWO 4). During his retirement he volunteered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County, where he was Volunteer of the Year four times. Bob loved many things - gadgets, ice cream, off-track betting, talking with people from all walks of life, travel with his wife, and hanging out with his adult children. Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dana; son Robert J. Quittner, of San Diego, a paramedic with Rural Metro; Suzanne Beal of Seattle, a writer with EMP Museum; Jon Quittner of Seattle, a musician, writer and law school student; grandson Hugo Beal; sister Phyllis Hochfeld of Seattle and numerous family members, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother Richard of Santa Barbara. Bob led a full life and will not be far from the hearts of all who love him. A Celebration of Life will be held at the family home on Sunday, January 20, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Dec. 30, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT QUITTNER

8 Entries

January 10, 2013

My sympathy to the Quittner family. I remember Bob as I was growing up. He and Dana were were great friends of my late mother, Dona Foster and late father, Robert Foster.

Gordon Hunt, MD

January 10, 2013

I wish we at kaiser could have provided Bob and family with more time and quality of life after his diagnosis. It is indeed uplifting to read about his accomplishments and sense of humor.

Joshua Johnson

January 9, 2013

CWO-4 Robert Quittner, what a wonderful man and friend. He was a shipmate of mine and fellow navy photographer. We spent many years together creating imagery in the service of our country. He was a subject matter expert and many young sailors hone their skills under the watchful eye of Chief Warrant Officer Quittner. He was the photographer's photographer. He was the kind of guy that if you ask him what time it was he would definitely tell you how to build a clock. But in explaining how to build that clock you got so much from Robert Quittner's life's lessons. Once at D.Z. Akins where we often had meetings, I started calling him Bobby. Looking over the top of his glasses, he told me that I was in an exclusive club because not many people referred to him as Bobby. Well Bobby, the world is a better place because of your contribution. Now shipmate that you are in the best place, I wish you fairwinds and following seas. - CDR Joshua and Eleanor Johnson

Mary Watkins

January 1, 2013

Dear Dana ~
My sincere sympathy in the loss of Bob. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

January 1, 2013

That's my pops. Just a wonderful, funny, deeply caring guy that never stopped learning & growing. Miss you so much, dad.

Jeanne & Larry Atherton

December 31, 2012

Bob was a good friend, avid reader and creative game player. We shared many evenings with Bob & Dana through the years and always were captivated by his stories & amused by his quirky humor. He was truly an Original whom we loved and will miss every day.

Robert Quittner

December 31, 2012

Miss you very mch Dad.

December 31, 2012

What a loss of a brilliantly quirky mind! Based upon deep thought, Bob's eventual evaluation elicited immediate chuckles and later pondering. His photographic partnerships on projects often required strenuous and unusual positioning -- the upward shot of the cross on Mt. Helix in the late 1980s for the cover of the "Inland East" booklet published by the then-East County Economic Development Council promoting the new Grossmont Center, El Cajon's City Hall, ECPAC, the County's Courthouse and new and established East County businesses. Bob contributed much to the dialogue and imaging of our community. Eldonna Lay

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results