Todd Whitaker Sr.

East Lyme — Todd Eldridge Whitaker Sr., 64, of East Lyme, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, June 29, 2018, at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven, after a heroic battle with stage IV melanoma.

He was born in New London, on Dec. 19, 1953, the son of Walter Eldridge Whitaker and Christine Bills Whitaker. He and Patricia Massaro Whitaker were married in New London in 1979. In addition to his wife Patricia, he is survived by two children, Todd E. Whitaker Jr. and his wife Alba, and daughter Kathryn Whitaker; his two sisters, Kimberly Goff and Kristen Beebe; and his father Walter E. Whitaker. He was predeceased by his mother Christine B. Whitaker.

Todd grew up in Niantic, was a member of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club, and spent many summers teaching sailing, racing, and sailing with his family. He attended the East Lyme schools, and in 1975, graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in mechanical engineering. In the late ’90s, he earned a MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

After more than 42 years of distinguished service, Todd retired this February from the Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I., where he had been the chief naval engineer. He worked for the Navy, interacting with the highest ranking officials, and was involved with classified work. He earned numerous awards and has his name on three patents for the government.

Todd was a very special man, father, friend, colleague, and confidant to everyone in his life. He was selfless and always doing for others. When his children were involved in town activities, he was their coach and scout leader. He has always been dedicated to his family, and was especially active in caring for his parents and in-laws who lived in town. He had many favorite interests including traveling, watching the Boston Red Sox and attending their games, skiing in Vermont with family and friends, biking, boating and sailing, fishing, riding his ATV and scooter. He especially loved cars, looking at them, driving them, and working on them.

Calling hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at Thomas Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 6, in St. Agnes Church. Interment will follow in East Lyme Cemetery.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff at Yale (MICU, Oncology, Hematology) and L+M’s rehab floor for all the efforts made to help Todd and our family during the last three months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital, CT (closertofree@ynhh.org) or the Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund (http://www.jimmyfund.org/ about-us/boston-red-sox/).

Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to view photos, leave condolences, sign the register.