Evan Bittel

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Evan Reber Bittel, a courageous, charismatic, and deeply intelligent man who was born on February 20, 1984, in Northampton, MA. Evan loved being with his amazing Boston sober queer family/community, watching movies at Melville Manor and having brunch and dinner with his people. He had a "wicked sense of humor" and never missed a chance for a "dad joke," a shared inside joke or a masterfully-worded retort. He made the same quips and one liners throughout his life and because of his personality they never lost their charm. Evan loved eating delicious food, cooking new dishes and gathering over meals with friends. He also loved the ocean and sunning himself on the beach in small swimsuits. He was a fabulous and devoted dancer who spent many hours on the dance floor with friends.
Evan had a mind for history and language, and his capacity to share his thoughts with his vast vocabulary stood out to those who knew him. His intellect led people to say that, "Few are as smart as Evan was, which made him so awe inspiring to be around." He was tech-talented and easily adapted to any new platform or technological tool.
Evan loved loved loved music! He remembered songs from his whole life, those which made him smile and dance and those which made his heart weep, which he lovingly described as "waterworks." He loved to share musical connections and memories with everyone he loved. Evan would frequently text out links to his meaningful music of the moment. He also loved clothing and self-presentation--he was a walking fashion statement and the tighter and brighter the better. It was important to Evan to keep in shape so he prioritized exercising at the gym. He loved to be loud and embarrassing, and the more he embarrassed someone the more his Cheshire grin would grow.
Evan was enormously creative. From an early age, he crafted masterpieces from cardboard and paint or built handy gadgets to use around the house. He loved performing and shone in high school in theater and drag shows. He grew to love painting during his time at SUNY Purchase and continued to paint throughout different stages of his life. He was a beacon in the financial planning world, where he spent a decade applying his intellect and keen attention to detail. He was not just a colleague but a friend who would lighten up the room with his humor and charm. Evan was a world traveler and did not bat an eye at a twenty-hour flight if it meant celebrating pride in Australia. He frequently made plans for a multi-port cruise or a visit to friends in California or Florida or a jaunt between European cities, especially loving Lisbon. Evan would spend his summers in Provincetown with a glorious community of friends along the Cape Cod beaches. Wherever he went, he was sure to find the queer communities and bring home magnets for his nephews. He was generous beyond measure--what was his was yours--and he loved picking out the perfect present for someone he loved.
Evan was open and honest and freely shared his celebrations, thoughts and struggles with friends and family. He valiantly battled depression and addiction throughout his life and inspired many people in the sober community through his honesty and presence. People appreciated how open and raw he was and that he could share how much pain he was in no matter who the mixed company was. He was completely authentic, which gave other people the ability and permission not to be ashamed of who they were despite whatever characteristic or feeling they were experiencing. In this way he saved many lives.
Evan leaves behind a legacy of love, courage, and authenticity. He is survived by his mother, Andrea Reber and her partner John Berkowitz; his sister, Maggie Bittel and his brother-in-law Barry Daggett; his nephews Henry and Owen Daggett; his family members Frankie Consolo, John Young and Arthur Charles; his uncles Jeff and Todd Reber; his aunt Barbara Reber; many cousins and an enormous community of amazing friends whom he cherished. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Bittel.
We invite you to a visitation on Saturday, 22 Feb 2025 from 2:00PM to 5:00PM at McHoul Family Funeral Home, 354 Adams Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts, 02122, to celebrate Evan's life. There will also be a celebration of Evan's life held at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence later in the spring with the date still to be determined. Evan is described as "loving harder and stronger than any other person there ever was, which made it impossible not to love him." People who knew him saw what a shining light he was such that "no one--absolutely no one--that has ever come in contact with him has trouble remembering who he was." He is mourned by so many.
In lieu of flowers family and friends may honor Evan by contributing to Gay for Good
www.gayforgood.org
We encourage you to leave memories and upload photos to the memorial page as we honor and remember our beloved Evan.