John A. Kittermaster

PALO ALTO - John Anthony Kittermaster, age 87, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2014 at the VA Palo Alto Hospice and Palliative Care Center. He was born March 31, 1927 in Highland Park, Illinois to Dougall A. and Margaret K. (nee Bunnell) Kittermaster. John attended Lake Forest Academy and Highland Park High School in Illinois. At age 17 John joined the Navy and served on the island of Guam following the end of WW II. John received his M.S. in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. John married Joan Avon Nicholson of Chicago in 1950 and they moved to Riverwoods, Illinois to raise their three children. In 1969 John married Carol Wright Davis of Lake Forest and became John/Dad to her four children. John had a long and successful career in the construction industry. From owning his own general contracting business to serving as project manager on landmark structures in Chicago, Toronto, and Portland, Oregon. John and Carol moved to the Bay Area in 1983 and projects included an addition to the Stanford University Hospital and the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. John continued to work as a consultant after retirement and was most proud of his work at the San Francisco Airport, the City of Burlingame Firehouse, and the Aquatic Center in Newark. John and Carol embraced living in the Bay Area and were active in community organizations including Beyond War, the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group, and the Johnston House in Half Moon Bay. John enjoyed nature’s beauty and shared his lifelong love of camping, canoeing, hiking, skiing and sailing with his family. His ancestors had a rich history in Canada and John was the fourth generation to vacation on Gloucester Pool in Ontario. Those who knew John were well aware that he couldn’t wait to make the trek east each summer to his beloved island, Llanberris, where he would gather with family and friends. John is survived by Kari Kittermaster (Paul Tobias) of Wisconsin, John A. Kittermaster, Jr. (Denise Hicks) of Illinois, Kristin Rogers (Tom) of Missouri; Sarah Lannes (Steven), Amy Favaro (BJ) and James Davis (Brenna) of California; grandchildren Collin Rogers, Chloe Rogers, Harlan Wells (Kari), Hillary Reynolds (Ryan), James Davis, Elliott Davis, Caterina Davis, Matt Favaro, and Tanner Woelk; and great-grandchildren Charley, Cheyenne, and William. John is also survived by his sister, Ann K. Bucke, and niece Margaret B. Langlands, both of Ontario, Canada. John was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, step-daughter, Jade Woelk, brother-in-law William Bucke, and nephew Tony Bucke. John will also be missed by his ‘Seven Brothers’ and his friends from the Moldaw Residences. A Celebration of Life is planned for January 31st, 2015 at 2pm at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA. Tributes in John’s name to Pathways Home Health and Hospice, pathwayshealth.org, are appreciated.