William Edward Pittsley

William E. "Bill" Pittsley, 71, on January 28, 2019 lost the battle to Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Virginia Hand Pittsley and his son John Jay Pittsley. Bill was born November 20, 1947 in South Weymouth, MA, the son of Harold J. and Catherine M. Pittsley. He was brother to Denise Pittsley Piccini of Raynham, Mass, Linda Pittsley Nicholson of Pembroke Mass, Dennis Pittsley (deceased), Christine Pittsley Fitzgibbon of Rockland, MA, Dean Pittsley of Ramona, CA, Eileen M. Pittsley of Abington, MA and Mary Pittsley Soul (deceased). He was brother-in-law to Patricia Hand Adelmann of Plymouth, MA, Donna Hand Celuzza of Lunenburg, MA, James P. Hand, Jr. of Attleboro, MA, Eleanor Hand Reilly of Falmouth, MA, Edward E. Hand of Buffalo, NY, Susan E. Hand of Norwood, MA, Thomas J. Hand of Boston, MA, Kathryn Hand Savage of Norwood, MA and Kelley M. Hand of Boston, MA and son-in-law to Gertrude V. Hand of Norwood, MA. Bill was uncle and uncle-in-law to an army of nieces and nephews, a position he cherished dearly.Bill graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 1965 and received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1969 from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He began his Federal Civil Service career at the Boston Naval Shipyard in July of 1969. He spent 35 years at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in both New London, Connecticut and in Newport, Rhode Island. During his distinguished career at NUWC he served over twelve years in the field of Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) at Fleet Commands in the Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His tours included: Science Advisor and then Director of Analysis at Commander, Submarines US Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, HI (1987-1991), ASW Science and Technology Advisor for Commander Submarine Group8/Commander Submarines Mediterranean in Naples, Italy (1996-1997), and again Science and Technology Advisor to COMSUBGRUEIGHT/COMSUBSOUTH (2001-2004). After completing his last Fleet assignment at Commander, Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Pittsley retired from Civil Service in 2007. He continued to work as a Senior Analyst and consultant with MIKEL INC. in Middletown, R.I.While at NUWC Mr. Pittsley had been the Technical Manager for the Tactical Control program (1997 to 2001). During this time frame he also served as co-chair of the APB Search Effectiveness Working Group. Prior to 1996, Mr. Pittsley was a Senior ASW Operations Research Analyst for the Combat Systems Department at NUWC. Previous experience at NUWC included position of Head of the Fleet Advisory and Assessment Division, he was responsible for management of the NSAP and TAC Damp;E as well as reconstruction and analysis of system performance effectiveness.Bill received several prestigious service awards over the years, the Superior Civilian Service (1989) and the Meritorious Civilian Service (1991). In December of 2005 Mr. Pittsley was presented the Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Secretary of the Navy for exceptional, technical, tactical and analytical career contributions to the United States Navys Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, and to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.Bill was an active member of the local tennis scene on Aquidneck Island and in Sausalito, CA. He was a passionate Red Sox fan. Bill was the founder and proud member of the exclusive club of Hand family spouses and partners, les miserable.Donations in Bills memory may be made to the Museum of Newport Irish History, PO Box 1378, Newport, RI 02840, www.NewportIrishHistory.org.Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019, from 5:00-8:00pm, at the Hambly Brick House Funeral Home, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport RI.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at 10:00am, at the funeral home.