Milan passed away on May 14, in Napa, on his 90th birthday. He was born in Penn Yan, N.Y., to Milan Louis and Adelyn May (Clymer) Pittman, Sr. He lived most of his childhood in Bayshore and Brightwaters Village, Long Island. He attended high school at Peekskill Military Academy, where he graduated second in his class. He won top honors for his marksmanship with a rifle. At the age of 13, he was champion skeet shooter for the eastern seaboard area. He was on the tennis team and played the saxophone and clarinet in the academy band and local theater orchestra. He won a full scholarship to the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy.
He loved to travel. As a merchant marine cadet, around the age of 15, he worked on ships traveling to South America and Europe.
He worked one summer at a shipyard in Orange, Texas, where he learned to fly in his spare time. His career in the Navy took him to Bremerton, Wash., where he became aid to the shipyard commander Thompson and later Admiral Sylvester.
Here he met his future wife of Eau Claire, Wis., Ruth Louis Sherman. They enjoyed sailing his flat sailboat in Peugeot Sound. They were married and spent the next 56 years together.
The Navy moved them to China, then to the East Coast and West Coast of the U.S. The Navy sent him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a doctorate as a naval engineer. He and Ruth had four children: Marilyn, Mark and twins Lyle and Susan. They camped from coast to coast three times as the Navy transferred him. Milan retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1967, with 26 years service. He moved to Napa and became the supervisor of the Navy’s West Coast science industrial lab at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He earned a certificate as a professional engineer in quality engineering.
He retired from Mare Island in 1983.
He and Ruth traveled the United States and Canada in their motor home seeing national parks, old friends and relatives. Milan continued his travels after Ruth’s passing in 2002, visiting China three times, Peru, Egypt, Italy, Africa, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand.
Milan was an avid outdoorsman, photographer and archer who enjoyed camping, fly fishing, hiking and being with nature.
In fact, he made bows out of Osage orange wood for his sons. He shaped and sanded them smooth, putting a handle in the center, fitting a string and then teaching his children to shoot.
He led mushroom and wildflower identification hikes in the Napa Valley and surrounding areas, pointing out the different varieties by their common and scientific names. Milan was a member of the California Native Plant Society, the Chinese Stamp Society, the Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy, Sigma Xi, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Counsel and a founding member of the Skyline Wilderness Park Association.
He was president for 10 years and helped make the park a nature attraction for all who visit.
He was a co-creator of the Martha Walker Native Habitat and Garden, also known as the first U.S. Peace Garden.
Milan was known for his kindness. He was dedicated to his family and a big supporter of higher education.
He loved music: classical, opera, big band, swing and Harry Belafonte. He attended the Unity Church of Napa Valley. Even in his last few months he would dance on Sundays to the music of the band after church. He inspired many others to sing and dance and celebrate the joy of friendship, love and life.
Milan is survived by his children: Marilyn Burrows of Suisun City, Mark Pittman, Lyle Pittman and Susan Stephens, each of Napa; as well as his son-in-law, Robert Burrows and daughter-in-law, Robin Pittman; grandchildren, Lorraine Bragg, Monica Bloise, Shea Stephens, Joel Stephens, Heather Pittman, Michael Burrows, Farrah Pittman and Ryan Stephens; and great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Bragg, Alyssa Bragg, Kaeli Stephens, Adelyn Stephens and Grayson Burrows.
This fall, Milan L. Pittman will be interred at the Arlington National Cemetery. Memories and words of sympathy may be sent to the family online at tulocaycemetery.org.
