Jim Bitler

Jim Bitler - SAVANNAH - Jim Bitler, the face of Ossabaw Island, the on-island working stiff of the Ossabaw Island Foundation, the go-to man for Sandy West, who gifted the island to the state of Georgia 30 years ago, died Sunday afternoon while taking a nap. He was 55. Paul Pressly, the Foundation's Education Alliance Director, was on the island at the time. Pressly knew something was amiss after he called Bitler repeatedly, only to get Jim's upbeat and unmistakable message: "If I don't answer, chances are I am somewhere on this beautiful island loving my job." Few can boast so much love for their job. Accompanied by his two Boston terriers, Beau ("that's Beau-regardless," he would say) and Kate ("Katherine the Great"), Bitler would greet visitors at the dock, load them in his truck, drive them to their quarters and start the magic. Through him, the island's history came alive. He was scientist, raconteur and naturalist. He could point out the island's 11 long leaf pine trees. He knew the gestation period of an armadillo (120 days), how to identify and cook "chicken of the tree" (an island mushroom) and just the right amount of oyster shells, lime, sand and water to recreate the original tabby surface of the three standing slave cabins on the island's north end. His quarters were simple, his mind a steel-trap retrieval system. He was a stand-up comedian. If he bumped up a story a notch or two, it was only to make it better. To Mrs. West, his longtime compatriot and co-conspirator, the impish Bitler was "Pieface" or "James James Morrison Wethery George Dupree Milne." He taught himself to make baskets out of sweet grass. He was a watercolorist. He grew indigo. Bitler, who spent seven years at Ossabaw, graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in wilderness skills. As a naturalist he worked for Little St. Simons, Wilderness Southeast, the Sea Island Company and Disney's Hilton Head Resort, where he was employee of the year, "which meant I had to walk across the stage in giant Mickey Mouse shoes in front of Maya Angelou, who was speaking." He also was a concierge at Savannah's Hampton Inn. He is survived by one brother, Jon Bitler of Sanford, Fla., one sister, Douglass Strickland of Tallmadge, Ohio, one niece, Douglass Bitler, his partner of 18 years, Jack Sinopoli, and legions of friends and admirers. Funeral services, which are being handled by Fairhaven Funeral Home, are pending. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Ossabaw Island Foundation, 305 Fahm St., Sav'h 31401. Savannah Morning News April 12, 2011 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries .