Richard Witte

WITTE

Richard Charles Witte, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away Saturday evening, October 24, 2015, surrounded by his immediate family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 ½ years, Nancy (nee Ullrey); his daughter, Elizabeth (Donald) McGonigle, and son, Jeffrey (Michele) Witte; four grandchildren, Jonathan (Kate) Witte, Lisa (Adam Lawrence) Witte, James McGonigle, and Colleen McGonigle; and a great-granddaughter, Elianna Witte. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Phyllis Kimmel, eleven nieces and nephews, and in-laws Louise Witte and Melissa Witte. He was predeceased by his older brother, Alvin, and his parents, Herbert and Alvina Witte. Mr. Witte was an honorable and exemplary man who was liked, admired, and respected by all who knew him. He was a faithful Christian, devoted to his family, proud of his country and his military service, and a person of strong character, integrity, and morals. He had a strong work ethic and was dedicated to his job, but he was also very generous and gave of himself to fill positions of leadership and to help others. Richard Witte was born March 30, 1929 in Oak Park, Illinois. He received a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) in 1950. Among his many activities at Michigan Tech, he was Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook, Keweenawan. Mr. Witte is a veteran of the United States Navy, serving in the reserves from 1948 to 1968. After being commissioned as an Ensign in 1951 he served three years active duty as a gunnery officer aboard a Fletcher-class destroyer in the Mediterranean (Sixth Fleet), U.S.S. Mullany, DD528. He retired from the Naval Reserves in 1968 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Witte received his Juris Doctorate from the Indiana University School of Law in 1956 and was a member of the Board of Editors for the Indiana Law Journal. He was admitted to practice by the bars of Indiana, Ohio, Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He was employed as a patent attorney with the Procter and Gamble Company in Cincinnati from 1956 to 1992, retiring as Vice President - Chief Patent Counsel, Procter & Gamble Worldwide. Mr. Witte filed almost 1400 patents during his career at P&G and served on numerous commissions, delegations, and boards, including: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Advisory Commission on Patent Law Reform; Advisory Group on Civil Justice Reform - Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Delegation to Diplomatic Conference on Treaty Harmonization of World Patent Laws at The Hague; U.S. Delegation to Diplomatic Conferences on Revision of Paris Convention - Nairobi and Geneva; Council, American Bar Association, Patent Trademark & Copyright Section; American Intellectual Property Law Association; Association of Corporate Patent Counsel; Intellectual Property Owners (Vice President & Director); International Intellectual Property Association (Executive Committee); and Cincinnati Bar Association. Following his retirement from P&G, Mr. Witte briefly served of counsel to a major intellectual property law firm in New York City. Mr. Witte received numerous professional and scholastic honors, including induction into the Academy of Materials Sciences and Engineering at Michigan Tech, Theta Tau fraternity, Blue Key national honor fraternity, Tau Beta Pi engineering scholastic society, Alpha Sigma Mu national metallurgical fraternity, Phi Delta Phi international legal fraternity, and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Witte was a generous benefactor to his almae matres. He was inducted into the Indiana University President's Circle for lifetime generosity, and Michigan Tech's McNair Society, Hotchkiss Society, and Hubbell Society. He recently endowed a professorship at Michigan Tech. Mr. Witte was actively involved in leadership roles for nonprofit organizations. He was a charter member of the Powel Crosley Jr. branch of the YMCA and a two decade member of the Committee of Management, including four years as Chairman. He was also a long-time member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and Hamilton County, including serving as Vice-President, Chairman, and Secretary, as well as Vice Chairman of the Governance Task Force. Mr. Witte served as a Ruling Elder at Northminster United Presbyterian Church, on the Presbytery Executive Committee, and as a delegate to the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Witte was an avid military historian, specializing in WWI British Royal Navy history, polar exploration, and Victoria Cross recipients. He published two books and wrote numerous journal articles on medals and honors of the Royal Navy and was a member of the Orders and Medals Research Society of Great Britain. Services will be held at the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home, 11285 Princeton Pike (SR 747), Springdale, OH 45246, on Saturday, November 7, 2015. Visitation will be from 11 am to noon, with memorial beginning at noon. (There will be no procession or interment.)In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Richard Witte Endowed Professorship, Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931.