Mitchell J. Waters

Mitchell J. Waters of Lake Barrington Shores A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mitchell J. Waters, 69, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington. Internment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Born April 11, 1935, in Evanston, the son of Jeffrey Francis and Genevieve Sloan Waters, he died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 after a long battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He loved life, his family, his friends, the Marine Corps and his country. He took great joy in keeping up with his friends and bringing people together. He knew that having fun was the most important component in learning, leading and living. Mitchell graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1953. He attended Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1957. He entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Program his sophomore year of college. After completing the Officers' Basic School at Quantico, Va., in February 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Cindy Fish, and then received orders to the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant prior to his release from active duty in June 1960. After joining the Marine Corps Reserve in 1960, Gen. Waters' distinguished career included serving as commanding officer for four rifle platoons. three infantry companies, the 2nd Battalion 24th Marines that took part in the NATO Exercise Bold Guard in northern Germany in 1978. and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Camp Lejeune, 1987- 1990. He also served as director, Marine Corps Reserve Support Center, Overland Park. Kan.; was national president of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers' Association; chairman, secretary of the Navy's Marine Policy Board; and a member of the board of trustees for the Marine Corps University Foundation. Gen. Waters' military career was highlighted with his promotion to brigadier general on July 1, 1986. He was promoted to major general on July 1, 1990, at which time he was assigned as deputy commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic in Norfolk, Va. (mobilization assignment). Following his recall to active duty in January 1992, to serve as the assistant deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, he testified before Congress. His retirement was honored at a reception at Fort Myer and along with a ceremony hosted by the commandant of the Marine Corps at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., in August 1993, after more than 39 years of service. Maj. Gen. Waters was awarded the Legion of Merit for his "professionalism and dynamic leadership" in conceiving innovative programs for the integration of Active and Reserve Marines, which serve as the model for the operating forces to this day. Other personal military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal for his command of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines' during their outstanding performance in the NATO exercise "Bold Guard" in Northern Germany, September 1978; the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal with one bronze star; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. As a civilian, he was sales manager of Paktron, marketing manager of Buildex and project manager of Venture Programs for Illinois Tool Works, Inc. He was president/owner of PTE-Waters Industries, Inc. in Elk Grove Village, 1978-1988. He then became president of Christiana Industries from 1988 - 1994, after which he joined ATF, Inc. as vice president of sales from 1995 - 1999. In 2000 ATF started an American/German joint venture, Rifast, LLC, in which he served first as president and then as chairman. Gen. Waters loved initiating and being involved in numerous activities: During his children's youth he coached Little League baseball for Palatine Park District and was involved in the sports of all three children. He himself, completed five marathons including the Chicago Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. He was a very active livelong alumnus of both Evanston Township High School and Colgate University. He assisted the ETHS' class reunions and college fraternity reunions and has lifelong friends from grade school. After graduating from Colgate, he served two four-year terms on the alumni board of directors, Football and Advisory Committee on Athletics, and received the Maroon Citation in 1967 for outstanding contributions and the Football Coaches Award. He was also instrumental in starting reunions for his Marine Corps 3-57 Basic School class, which continue to this day. Gen. Waters never forgot a friendship and reveled in every gathering of friends. Gen. Waters is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Cindy Fish Waters, also of Evanston and Barrington; three adult children and six grandchildren: Melissa Waters Blank of Oak Forest and her three daughters, Kendra, Morgan, Taylor; Julie Waters Price of Columbia, S.C. and her three sons. Sage, PJ, River; and Mitchell Jeffery Waters of Denver, Colo., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Gen. Waters is also survived by his sister, Sally Waters Robson of Lantana, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 410 S. Hager Ave., Barrington, IL 60010; Marine Corps University Foundation, P.O. Box 122, Quantico, VA 22134-0122; or Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.