Thomas Pitt

1943 - 2025

Thomas Pitt

December 31, 1943 - August 5, 2025

Thomas Allen Pitt, age 81, of Charlottesville, VA, died unexpectedly on August 5, 2025, at the University of Virginia Hospital MICU as a result of a pulmonary embolism. His loving family was with him at the time of his passing.

Tom was born in Washington, DC, on December 31, 1943, one of four children born to Louise and Stanley Pitt. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Louise; and his older sister, Joanne Pitt Sailer.

Tom's parents instilled in him a deep sense of integrity, intellectual curiosity and commitment to education, a love of travel, and an appreciation of the value of true friends. His life's journey took him many places: various southern states as a young child of an FBI agent father; then Closter, NJ for junior high school and high school; Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ for his B.A. in History; the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY for his M.A. in International Studies; Quito, Ecuador for a Fulbright Scholarship; the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA for his Ph.D. in Latin American History and an M.B.A. degree; Jackson, MS as a consultant at U.M. in his retirement; and travel to more than a dozen foreign countries. It was UVA in Charlottesville that won his heart and where he chose to make his career and home. He started the development program in fundraising for the UVA Medical Center in 1981 and retired 23 years later as Assistant Vice-President for Development for the Health Sciences Center. Folks that knew him well will remember his enduring passion and enthusiasm for UVA and UVA sports, especially basketball. (He was also a life-long Red Sox fan!)

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Betty, with whom he shared 56 cherished years of good adventures and friendship. Tom loved his family deeply and leaves many lifelong memories to live on in the hearts of his surviving sister, Janice Pitt Patterson (and husband, Rick) of Old Chatham, NY; and his brother, Bill Pitt (and wife, Kate) of St. Augustine, FL. Extended family members that were very dear to him include Bruce Crawford of San Francisco, CA; Steve Crawford (and wife, Lisa, and their children, Amelia Crawford and Stanley Crawford) of Austin, TX; Christopher Patterson (and wife, Danielle Marie, and their daughter, Mackenzie Patterson) of West Lebanon, NY; Shannon Pitt of Washington Township, NJ; Allison Pitt of Verona, NJ; and Kati Rosario (and husband, Ulysses, and their children, Elijah Rosario, Averil Rosario and Isaiah Rosario) of St. Augustine, FL.

Tom was grateful for his good friends and would be sorry that he didn't have the opportunity to say a farewell to Sam and Betty Pincus, Ramona and Larry Reed, Jeff and Mary Moster, Mac and Allys Craig, and Barbara Lohse (wife of his high school friend, Bill Lohse, who died very recently). He would also want to honor friends who have passed that meant a lot to him: Jim and Betsy Kennan, Ginny and Prewitt Semmes, and his professor Dr. Jerry Knudson.

The family would like to thank the UVA physicians who cared for Tom so well in recent years as well as the doctors and nurses who provided his final care at the UVA Hospital Emergency Room and MICU.

There will be a private family interment at the UVA Cemetery Columbarium at a future date. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.

Hill and Wood Funeral Service

201 1st St. N Charlottesville, VA 22902