Sunday, August 3, 2008

Earl Bittner, 1949-1972

To see Earl Bittner's tribute page, click the link under "Gators: Gone but not forgotten" in the sidebar on the righthand side of this blog page. Then click Earl's name on the list of Deceased Classmates.

Bonnie Gardner Hillier provided a newspaper clipping about Earl's death. We also found two pictures of Earl from the 1967 Portavian.

But we've got lots of questions.

First of all, I don't know Earl's date of birth.

And I'm not sure about his date of death.

Tom Gallo recalled that Earl died on Mother's Day 1972, but I'm guessing at the date. There were no dates in the newspaper clip.

Also, Earl's middle name was listed as "Paul" in our yearbook. But it's "Patrick" in the newspaper story. Which is correct?

If Earl had died yesterday, his obit would probably have appeared on a local newspaper's Web site. We'd be able to leave our condolences, fond recollections and other thoughts and information in an online guestbook.

This blog item and Earl's tribute page allow us to do that now.

We can revise Earl's page as we collect more information and photographs.

Maybe you've got a picture of Earl playing with his brother, Al, and the kids from his Pitcairn neighborhood. I'd love to add pictures and stories from all aspects of his life, including school, military, church and family.

Are any of you in touch with Al or other members of Earl's family? Whatever happened to Marsha Dorfman?

You can post a comment on this blog or send comments, stories and photos to me via e-mail at Alana.Miltak.Baranick@gmail.com or by snail-mail at Alana Miltak Baranick, 6603 Northcliff Ave., Brooklyn, OH 44144.

Thanks for your help.
-Alana.

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