Rev. Thomas Tracy Pittenger II

1937 - 2014

REVEREND THOMAS TRACY PITTENGER, II Reverend Thomas Tracy Pittenger, II, 76, of Stuart, FL, well
known as Fr. Tom, died on Sunday, January 5, 2014, much loved by his wife, Diane Crocker Pittenger; his children, T. Todd Pittenger of Orlando, FL; Bryce Pittenger of Albuquerque, N.M.; Stacia Alana Grier of Taos, N.M.; and Christopher D. Ritchie of Jacksonville, Fl, as well as their respective spouses and thirteen grandchildren. Tom was born on March 24, 1937 in Akron, Ohio, the son of Thomas Tracy and Bertha Byal (known as Tracy and Berdie) Pittenger. The Pittengers moved to Winter Park, FL during the early 1940's, and Tom and his beloved sister, Susan P. Flynn (now of Henderson, NV), both graduated from Winter Park High School. Tom then served in the U.S. Coast Guard before graduating from Florida State University in 1963. Tom worked in the insurance industry in Rhode Island, North Carolina, the Virgin Islands, Tampa and Orlando until 1976 (age 39), when he resigned from managing Florida operations for Crum & Forster Ins. Co. to attend Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Fr. Tom was ordained to the Episcopal Priesthood at St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando, FL on January 6, 1980. Before Fr. Tom became the Rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Stuart, Florida in 1991, he held clergy positions with Church of the Redeemer in Avon Park, Fl; All Saints Church and St. John's Cathedral in Jacksonville, FL; and St. Philip and St. James Episcopal Church in Denver, Co. Fr. Tom served as the Rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church from 1991 until his retirement in 2009, and during those years held numerous leadership positions with various church and community related organizations, including a term as President of the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida. Upon Fr. Tom's retirement, the St. Mary's Parish Life Center that had been completed in 2001 was renamed the Pittenger Center. In retirement, Fr. Tom spent much of the year with close friends and family at his and Diane's cabin known as Pittenger's Perch in Franklin, N.C., where Fr. Tom also assisted at both the St. Cyprians and St. Agnes Episcopal Churches located there. A Funeral Service for Fr. Tom will be held Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 623 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bible Reading Fellowship, PO Box 380, Winter Park, FL 32790. A guest registry may be signed at www.youngandprill.com.