George was born in White Plains, NY in 1941 as the only son of George and Alleyne Pittman. The family moved frequently across the US to accompany his military pilot father, landing in northern NJ where George attended Ramsey HS and met Judy. The HS sweethearts graduated in 1959 and George attended Rutgers University and Rochester Institute of Technology.
George and Judy married Aug.17, 1963 and soon moved to Lexington, MA where George worked as a photographic scientist and Judy taught school. Holly and Todd were born there and in 1969 the family moved to VA where George designed and implemented photo reconnaissance systems for the Central Intelligence Agency for 30 more years.
In 1971 the Pittman family discovered the new city of Columbia and moved onto Pamplona Rd., their home of 42 years. George was an avid believer in the concept of Columbia and believed James Rouse was one of the great thinkers of the 20th century. As a founding and active member of Christ UMC, George was youth group leader and enjoyed his church family by hosting the 101st Annual Crab Feast each July. He enjoyed Columbia community life including Pamplona’s backyard volleyball games and July 4 celebrations. George spent time as a driver for Neighbor Ride, delivered food for FISH, but mostly gave his time and heart to Stevens Forest Elementary School.
In the early 80’s George began assisting SF teachers with “hands on” science. He soon was juggling his work schedule to be in the classroom a few hours each week and his passion for teaching science lasted more than 30 yrs. In the last 10 years George spent his retirement creating the SF Research Center where students used tools to create experiments that combined science, engineering, math and most importantly critical thinking skills.
As a proud papa, he was thrilled by Holly and Todd’s achievements and surprised himself by becoming a day care Grandpa in early retirement years. He delighted in being Gramps and spent countless hours watching Kyle, Abby, Dana, Jackson and Josie’s many sports, enjoyed holiday celebrations, and dug gigantic beach holes and rolled skee-ball at the family’s annual week at Bethany Beach.
When faced with the challenges of extensive eye surgery and melanoma, George took it all in stride and befriended the doctors into lengthy medical explanations to enhance his own learning. George remained active at school and in the community until early February when his health required in-home hospice support. He died at home March 18, 2013 a fulfilled man who only wished he had more time with his grandchildren and could complete his voluminous science notes.
Remarks by Ron Morris, Principal of Stevens Forest Elementary
If you were to do a Google web search on the year 1941 you will find names such as Pete Rose, Coach Bill Parcells and Dick Cheney. Each of these famous individuals was born in 1941. We all know about their careers and what they have done. Well, I am here to tell you that there was another truly great man born that year that only a relative few know about. He is a local celebrity. This individual made his mark on society as well. The great man that I speak of was born in White Plains, New York. And in 1981 made a very conscious decision that he was going to start making a contribution at little known Stevens Forest Elementary School. His initial contributions were very much like the contributions that an ordinary volunteer would make. But you will soon see, the great man that I speak of did little that was ordinary. When he first began he sat in the back of the room and cut out letters for bulletin boards. He graded papers and helped students with their schoolwork. He enjoyed this and realized that he was making a difference. As a result - this not so ordinary man - decided that he would adjust his work schedule so that he could spend a half day - each and every week - at little known Stevens Forest Elementary School. He made a commitment and he was sticking to it. So I ask you, at age 40, what man leaves work to volunteer each and every week at an elementary that his children no longer attend. Who does this?
So this committed man continues his volunteer efforts each and every week cutting, pasting, and helping kids with schoolwork, until one day something magical happened. He had an opportunity to do a demonstration lesson and show the children how to operate a motor with a battery. The teachers were impressed by his scientific knowledge and the expressions on the students' faces were simply unforgettable. This committed man truly enjoyed this experience and recognized that he could make an even bigger contribution beyond cutting, pasting, and grading papers. He could actually add ummpppphhh to the science curriculum, but there was only one problem. This committed man did not have experience with leading students. He did not have the confidence or the strategies to manage children. So this committed man decided to take college level teacher education courses at UMBC, while still working a full time job. So I ask you… A volunteer taking college classes to become a better volunteer… Who does this?
So this college class taking man continues working, volunteering, and teaching topics such as electricity to Kindergartners. I did say Kindergarteners and electricity. He writes original stories to introduce science concepts and dresses up as characters to make learning real. Then in the year 2000 he decided to exhale and retire from work at the CIA after 30+ years. More than 30 years of a high-pressure job, making very important decisions and where mistakes can cost millions. And what does this college class taking man decide to do in retirement… He decides to start full time volunteering at little known Stevens Forest Elementary. Instead of relaxing and simply enjoying life, he decides that working in Kindergarten is not enough and that he needs to work in all 6 grade levels teaching topics such as electromagnetism, electro-chemistry, and simple machines. He designed cool activities so that students could better understand how simple machines – such as pulleys - worked. He would literally lift students off the ground and into the air not using brute strength but with using a pulley that was anchored to the ceiling. Knowledge is power! Of course the kids loved it. Who at nearly 60 years old… earns the right to retire, rest and relax… opts out to volunteers 5 days a week 8 hours a day with children from Kindergarten through 5th grade? Who does that?
His efforts are so greatly valued that the school offers this retired man his own “instructional space” in 2003. There he built a facility – which he called The Research Center- where true science could happen. The Research Center had microscopes, computers, cameras, hand and machine operated tools. A true scientific playground for learning. It was in this center where this research man could fully engage students in hands on learning. Allow their natural questions to guide instruction. Where students could think critically and solve real problems. Where they analyzed data and conducted real research. Doing all of these hands on activities required resources. Now, the school offered the space but where did the majority of the learning materials come from? I can tell you that the material costs for operating such a facility averaged $6000 a year. And this research man footed the majority of the bill for several years. Who pays $6000 a year to volunteer? Who does that?
So while operating The Research Center – this generous man – wants to build a webpage to showcase the work his students are doing and to advertise to others you can make learning fun and engaging too. There is only one problem… This generous man does not how to design webpage. By now you should already know how this problem is solved. He decided take even more classes to learn how to design this webpage. Which he did. So now this webdesigning man just created even more work for himself. He must now work full time in the Research Center at school 5 days a week, 8 hours a day AND work overtime at home to maintain the webpage? Who works overtime while retired? Who does that?
So this webdesigning man continues his extraordinary efforts arriving to school each and every day like clockwork. He was more reliable than the postman. In 2010 a major snowstorm strikes. The area is blanketed in snow. Schools shut down for days on end. While teachers are at home on Facebook and watching Maury Povic, this extraordinary man treks to the school when offices first open but schools are still closed for children and nonessential staff. Snowmaggedon could not stop this webdesigning man.
But over time this dedicated man realizes that he cannot continue at his current pace of volunteering 5 days a week and working countless hours each day and decides to document the work that he has done in the Research Center to show others that they can too build their own Research Center. So he drafts a manual exceeding 400 pages with pictures, a table of context, an index, chapter titles and subtitles. Because of his extraordinary efforts he has earned numerous honors ranging from the Governor’s award to being recognized with a simple certificate at a volunteer appreciation breakfast. But this extraordinary man did not work this hard for so many years to receive pats on the back or accolades. He dedicated his time for the sole benefit of those wonderful children at little known Stevens Forest Elementary School. He did all of this to make a profound difference in the lives of children.
This humble yet extraordinary man that of course that I am talking about is your son, your husband, your father, your granddad, your neighbor, your committee member, your church family member and my friend - George Allen Pittman. Over the years George and I would have talks that would lead to stories about his beloved Judy. He would always brag that everyone knows his wife because of how active she is in the community. He would share how proud he was of his children. I remember one moment distinctly when he had to pause to prevent himself from crying. He loved speaking about his grandchildren as well and had their pictures displayed in the Research Center.
If you were to do a web search on the life of George Pittman right now, you would have a hard time finding many references but if we each looked within our hearts there would be a million hits.
Some of you may have known that George was on a mission. A mission to share the great things that our kids were learning in the Research Center. He wanted the Research Center to be duplicated in every elementary school throughout our county. He invited any and everyone that would listen to come see our children in action. Often times George grew frustrated because he felt that his innovative ideas were not being received and that no one was taking action.
George I am here to tell you that you are a pioneer and you were just ahead of the curve. Leaders will take action. They just need time to catch up to your trailblazing pace. And you left the blueprints behind for them to follow. So your mission is accomplished and may you rest in peace. And may God continue to bless your family. Thank you