David L. Dittmer

David L. Dittmer, 75, a former senior analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, died from complications of a stroke Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, in Alexandria, Va.

Born June 3, 1936, in Quincy, he was a son of O.L. and Helen Moore Dittmer. David graduated from Quincy High School in 1954.

He received a bachelor of science and master's degree in physics from the University of Iowa in 1961, where he also lettered in fencing. After serving in the army as a first lieutenant, he received a Ph.D. in nuclear physics at the University of Pittsburgh in 1969. He later received a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's JFK School of Government in 1984.

He worked in the Operations Evaluation Group at the Center for Naval Analyses (now the CNA Corp.) from 1973 until the year before his death. As a field representative for CNA, David and his family lived in numerous places including Hawaii; Gaeta, Italy; London, England; Yokosuka, Japan; and Lisbon, Portugal, as well as Newport, R.I., and Norfolk, Va.

His love of travel was immense. He documented his adventures in numerous journals that will be a treasured keepsake for his family.

Before his death, he was active as a mentor in the Wounded Warrior Project. He will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, his love of sports, and his willingness to provide suggestions and guidance to anyone on their travel ventures. He was above all a gentleman.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sibley McCaa Dittmer; daughters, Dohan Bell of Garmisch, Germany, and Molly Amadei of Ashburn, Va.; grandchildren, Henry and Kate Bell and Betsy Amadei; sister, Claire Myers of Quincy; brother, Dr. Donald Dittmer of Syracuse, N.Y.; niece, Jane Myers McNamara of Fort Worth, Texas; and nephews, Rodney Myers of Huntsville, Ala., and Joel Myers of Indianapolis, Ind.

SERVICES: Private inurnment will be in Greenmount Cemetery.

VISITATION: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: Wounded Warrior Project.

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: www.hansenspear.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.