Thomas Harvey Pitts

Thomas H. Pitts died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness on September 20, 2021, at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA. He is survived by his wife, Pamela K. Pitts of Lafayette, CA, his two children, Katherine A. Pitts and John T. Pitts, his former wife, Sally B. Pitts, and his sister Nancy P. Caleshu.

Tom was born on August 20, 1943, to Guy and Barbara Pitts. He was raised in Bloomfield Hills, MI, a suburb of Detroit. He attended Brown University and went on to earn an MBA degree at the Wharton School of Business in 1967. After graduate school, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Saint Paul in operations off North and South Vietnam. He retired as a Lieutenant JG in 1969.

In 1971 he married his first wife, Sally Dale Bunting. They raised their two children in Lafayette, California. In 1998 he married Pamela Koeberer Pitts and continued to live in Lafayette for the remainder of his life.

After his time in the service, his professional life began in the early 70’s with Crown Zellerbach Corporation, an American pulp and paper conglomerate based in San Francisco, CA. He rose through the ranks of the company as it changed ownership several times, ultimately retiring as president of the Fletcher Challenge Paper newsprint division in 1997.

Tom was an active member of the Bohemian Club, The Pacific Union Club, and the Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club. He was guided by a profound sense of curiosity and an abundant appreciation of good humor. He loved travel, art, music, food, cooking, cars, motorcycles, horseback riding, dogs, and a well told story. He will be missed by all that had the pleasure to know him.

A private celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Contributions in his memory may be made to the World Wildlife Fund.