Gregory J. Bittner

Born into an Army family in Harrisburg, PA, Greg finished high school in Japan,  followed by a year at Bullis School, then located in Silver Spring, MD.  Upon graduation from USNA, he served aboard the USS Taussig (DD746) and later, after submarine school, had a tour of duty aboard the USS Thornback (SS418).  In 1961 he left the Navy and worked for Magnavox and Westinghouse as an engineer, then branched out as a home builder in Long Island, NY, a field he remained in for 17 years.

 

He served as Mayor of Howey-in-the-Hills, FL from 1997 to 1999, during which time he accomplished many positive improvements for the town.  Also during this time he formed his own company, NHA Plastics Recruiters, which recruited engineers and management personnel for companies in the US.  He remained in this business until his retirement in 2000.

 

Greg died of throat cancer on July 3, 2005 and is survived by his wife, Susan; six children, Patricia Kaplan of Mt Sinai, NY; Beverley Cardo of Quogue, NY; Heather Bester of Hampton Beach, NY; Heidi Yanulis of Accra Ghana, West Africa; Holly Bittner of Alexandria, VA, and John Henry Fritz Bittner II of Germany; two stepchildren, Heidi Evans of Geneva, FL, and John Thomas Windon of Las Vegas, NV; a brother, Barry N. Bittner of Fairfax Station, VA; and 12 grandchildren. Golf and tennis were his games, and his spirit of determination served him well all his life.