Robert Charles Tite

Robert Charles Tite

January 6, 1933 – January 6, 2026

Dumfries, Virginia.

Robert Tite, devoted and beloved husband of Patricia M Davidson Tite, passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side.

Robert is predeceased by his Parents, William H Tite and Dorothy Seeley, and his brother William H. Tite, Jr.

Robert is survived by his two children, Jonathan Tite and Celia Lichtenstein, and son-in- law, David Lichtenstein, all of Springfield, Virginia. He is also survived by his niece, Julie Nelson, and nephew, William H Tite, III.

Robert was born in Springville, Erie County in upstate New York, not far from Buffalo, and the Erie Canal. His family moved to Parma Corners, just west of Rochester, NY.

In his early years, Robert was a family unpaid child laborer, as many children were, in the early 20th century. He and his mom cleaned the one room Spencerport Central School. They warmed the building by loading coal into the furnace very early every morning.

Robert also cleaned his family's barn, took care of animals and helped harvest and sell whatever his father planted. The family home, and land, were conveniently located on the main street in town. Robert learned many valuable life skills growing up. When he was old enough, he joined the boy scouts. His scout leader treated him with great respect, and Robert admired him greatly throughout his life.

After high school Robert Joined the US Coast Guard. He loved being in the Coast Guard where he spent most of his time in Newfoundland, Canada. He served on the Treasury Class Cutter Duane (WPG-33) as a crewman in the engine room. He loved ships but he loved flying even more and flew ice patrol missions, day after day tracking icebergs to protect maritime traffic in the Atlantic. During this phase of service his specialty was Aircraft Structural Mechanic.

In 1956, after his military service, Robert spent the next four years at his beloved Alfred University, not far from Corning, NY. While at Alfred he joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The friends he made there, he talked about all his life!

While at Alfred, he learned art and design which complemented his experience in fabrication and mechanics. Robert would use these skills throughout his career as an Industrial Designer.

While at Alfred Robert met and married his late wife and the mother of his children, Bernita Behrens.

Robert loved Bernita's father, Lawrence "Grandpa Behrens". He spoke, many times, of fond memories spent learning about making maple syrup. First collecting sap from the sugar maple trees and riding though the snowy woods in a horse drawn sleigh.

Robert graduated from Alfred University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramic Design. He later completed an intensive course at the University of Michigan in Human Factors Engineering.

He launched his professional career, close to home, in Rochester, NY with Friden Inc., a Singer Corporation, as a Designer.

He went on to work as a co-founder of American Regitel, a Motorola company.

During his illustrious career it was his family and the friends he made along the way that give Robert his great satisfaction and Joy. His work took the family to Menlo Park, California where he became an even greater environmentalist and deepened his love for trees and birds.

Robert opened his own consulting firm near Towson, Maryland, 1980 – 1990. He co-invented a diagnostic medical device for Becton Dickinson with a million in sales.

But that wasn't what Robert was most proud of. His greatest love was sharing the creative world of art and beauty and nature with his own, and all the children in his life.

The last thirty years of his life, Robert devoted his time to Unity Church of Chantilly. He was student of A Course in Miracles and was a prolific writer. He wrote his thoughts and journaled about everything, especially the ideas of the human condition, and the idea of oneness, the sacredness of all.

He will be deeply missed, especially by those who must go on without him.