Frank O. Litterer

Eternal Patrol
Frank "Skip" Litterer MMCS(SS)
September 29, 2024
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, Frank "Skip" Litterer (MMCS (SS) went on Eternal Patrol in Boston, MA, following a short illness. He was 76 years old.
Frank "Skip" was born on September 6, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York to Frank Joseph Litterer and Augusta M. Korte, the fourth of four children and the only son.
In his youth, Skip was an active young man delivering telegrams throughout his neighborhood – his route included some celebrities, spending summers in upstate New York with the church youth group led by Pastor Proyce, enjoying egg creams with his friends at Jan's Ice Cream Shop, and swimming on the high school swim team – no doubt the start of his great love of water. By his own account he was fabulous at the butterfly, his stroke of choice! Following high school and some time at community college, Skip found his love for the sea.
Skip joined the Navy in 1968, entering the Naval Nuclear Program for the submarine service. He proudly served on the USS Wasp CV-18, the USS Memphis SSN-691, the USS Sea Devil SSN-664 and the USS Kamehameha SSBN-642. During shore rotations he taught at the Kesselring Power School in Ballston Spa, New York while on active duty through 1985.
While living in Saratoga Springs, NY, Skip became a 32nd Degree Master Mason and proudly served as Lodge Master in Saratoga Springs from 1987-1988.
After leaving active duty service, Skip joined the Naval Reserve stationed in Newport, RI. There he served 12 years with the Fleet Training Group Unit. He loved that this unit provided the opportunity for active duty service at the then Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Sun, boating and "boat drinks" were his idea of a great summer AT! While serving as a reservist with FLETRAGRU in Newport he met the SIMA HQ101 Admin Support reservist, Deb Mallette, who was to become the love of his life! Proof that you can find love as well as see the world in the Navy, if you're lucky enough!
Skip had the unique opportunity to serve his last two active duty assignments aboard the US Coast Guard Tall Ship Eagle. He enjoyed the opportunity to work side by side with the Coast Guard Academy students on seamanship and damage control while having the "Master and Commander" experience of a lifetime! This great experience earned him a slight concussion when he got swept across the deck during an "ALL HANDS ON DECK" storm! This service brought him great pride, joy and material for some great sea stories! MMCS(SS) "Skip" was retired from the US Naval Reserve from the deck of the US Constitution in Boston, MA on May 11, 1997.
Skip became a resident of Rhode Island after marrying the love of his life, Deb Mallette where they were lucky to find a home so close to the sea that low tide and the foghorn soundings could be heard on a good day! Soon after moving to RI, Skip began his relationship with Conanicut Marine Services where he proudly spent over 20 years as ferry captain on the boats Jamestown, Katherine, Coastal Queen and the Viking Queen. Skip never missed an opportunity to entertain his passengers with stories and facts of Newport and Narragansett Bay. He would also point out any celebrity owned boats in the harbor! Thus, he became forever known to all as "Captain Skip"!
As a favored instructor of all things boat related he taught all manner of training classes for Boatwise, LLC. in his "spare" time! Teaching was a passion of his for which he excelled. His knowledge of the sea, seamanship and boating was vast and reliable. He so enjoyed this endeavor that he started his own small business called BOATS OF RI. With this business he taught experienced as well as novice boaters such things as how to park their boats (!), nautical rules of the road, which boats to purchase or stay away from and from time to time, he served as onboard captain for boat moves as far away as the Great Lakes!
Really a home body, Skip loved the home he created with Deb and his neighborhood. He could be found on any day walking one of the many dogs who came to live with them around the neighborhood and visiting with any neighbors that were out and about or exchanging sea stories with the sea captain across the street. He was an involved partner in anything his wife Deb did. He was a huge supporter of her efforts in dog rescue whether it was fostering a new dog or going to adoption events trying to find that dog the perfect home. He was the one who spoiled every dog by letting them share the bed at night! When he and Deb met, Deb's greatest passion had been music and musicals. He was so proud when she got accepted with the Chorus of Westerly and attended every concert. For their 20th anniversary he decided the perfect gift would be to meet her on her special turf – the stage. Skip secretly arranged with the directors of the chorus to show up at a preconcert rehearsal and serenade her with a song from the first musical he had ever seen – CAMELOT. A professed non-singer, he put himself front and center and serenaded Deb with his rendition of "If Ever I Would Leave You" in his best Robert Goulet impression! Now THAT was love
To all who knew and loved Skip, he was known for his story telling (the fine art of fibrication!), his ability to cook a mean breakfast (actually to cook anything!), his patriotism, his love of history, his care for etiquette and grammar and his ability to make anyone feel they were his friend and worthy of his time. He was kind, loving, smart and a true gentleman's gentleman. Although his passing may seem to leave a huge hole in our hearts, the blanket of love and adoration that he provided is the patch which will heal us as we await the time we meet again.
Skip is predeceased by his parents, Frank Joseph Litterer and Augusta M. Korte, his sisters and their spouses, Joan Weiskopf Wyman (Harry and Marshall), Josephine Chiarontona (Vincent), brother-in-law John Litterer, several nieces and nephews, and several beloved canine children and fosters, most particularly Kain, Elphaba, Galinda, Fiyero, Chief, Sam, Tom Sawyer and Hershey.
He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Deb. His sister and "second mother", Diane Litterer. His beloved children, Joanne (Greg) McDermott and Frank (Cheryl) Litterer. His grandchildren, Gregory McDermott (M'Kayla Tahkeal-Whitford), Hunter McDermott (Kristin Felton), and Hailey Litterer. And his great grandson, Gregory McDermott, III.
A Celebration of Life honoring Skips memory will be held on Sunday, October 20,2024 from 12-4pm aboard the Coastal Queen Ferry in Jamestown, RI. Due to Jamestown regulations the boat will get underway promptly once everyone is on board. An RSVP is requested at captskipsmemorial@gmail.com to ensure cruising compliance. Anyone interested but are unable to attend, please feel free to share your memories and stories with his family using this email address.
A very special thank you to the nurses, doctors and attendants of the Tufts Medical Center Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) who provided him the utmost of professionalism and compassionate care.
There is a port of no return, where ships may ride at anchor for a little space.
And then some starless night the cable slips, leaving only an eddy at the mooring place.
Gulls veer no longer, Sailor rest your oar.
No tangled wreckage will be washed ashore."
(Hand Salute)
MMCS (SS) Frank Litterer...
Rest your oar.
Ready, Two.