Del passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2011, after being diagnosed with lung cancer late last year. His death was a shock to everyone, including his family.
I’m still waiting for the Obituary promised by the family and will post it on the Website as soon as I receive it. In the meantime I would like to share a memorial written by one of his Litton friends.
REMEMBRANCE FOR A GOOD FRIEND
Del and I worked together on several projects for over 20 years at both DSD and DCS. In the early days we worked mostly on proposals with my fondest memories of the AN/TSQ-73 proposal. We worked around the clock in cramped quarters in a trailer. Del was the system engineer on the project and came up with many new inventive ideas and was able to explain these ideas in a manner that an evaluator from the government could understand. No small task. I don’t think he ever looked at his watch as he was always on the job during this proposal effort. Winning new business is the life blood of any company.
Del then transferred to DCS along with several DSD employees to start the new division in1979. Del was the senior scientist on the project and provided the structure for engineers to put on the details for the largest air defense system ever to be built from the ground up in the world. Del’s ability to work with everyone and provide guidance in such a way that everyone thought that it was their idea was uncanny. I watched him work with awe and admiration.
During our working years my wife and I shared many fun times at Christmas parties, etc., with Del and his wife Wilma. We got to know Wilma very well and what a great support for Del. We will truly miss you.
Bob Seitz