Guy Pitzel passed away on April 3, 2021.
Guy is survived by his wife Margaret (Peggy) Pitzel; daughter Shannon Tsai; son-in-law Kenny Tsai; grandson Stanley Tsai; grandaughter Katie Tsai; daughter Carol Pitzel Cruz; son-in-law Jason Cruz; grandsons Jacob and Cooper Cruz; brother Bernard Pitzel; and sister Dorothy Pitzel-Miller. His beloved dog Murphy and many nieces, nephews and their spouses and children also survive him. He was also very close to Peggy’s family, the Joyce’s, in Portland, Ore., where he spent many holidays.
Guy was born in Hibbing, Minn., the youngest of 12 children. At age 12, he built his first telescope and entered the state science fair. This was only the beginning of a lifelong passion for astronomy and the first of many hand-made telescopes.
Guy left for Renton, Wash., at age 17 to live with his beloved brother Frank and finish out his senior year of high school. He was the high school photographer and later merged his love for astronomy and photography by taking pictures of the moon and Hailey’s comet. After his freshman year at the University of Washington, Guy spent six years in the Navy during the Vietnam War and returned to finish his degree in physics under the G.I. Bill.
Guy met Peggy during his junior year and the two married at St. Stephen’s church in southeast Portland. They were married for almost 50 years.
Guy retired from Boeing after 25 years and moved with Peggy to his beloved Whidbey Island, Wash. Guy was an avid life-long learner with many hobbies. He spent countless hours reading math, astronomy and physics texts. He was a ham radio enthusiast and despite his physical limitations from heart disease and diabetes, constructed a giant pulley system to raise a 150-foot tall radio tower on his property. He very much enjoyed his ham radio hobby and was a past-president of the Island County Amateur Radio Club. Another hobby was woodworking in his well-stocked workshop. In recent years, he moved to Issaquah, Wash., to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Guy loved his family deeply and enjoyed watching his grandkids grow.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship is being established at the University of Washington for undergraduate students in the field of physics. For details, please e-mail cmpc206@gmail.com.
Condolences can be sent to Peggy Pitzel, 1646 Anthology Ave. N.W., B101, Issaquah, WA, 98027. Guy’s ashes will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held once COVID restrictions are eased.
