Donald C. Hitt, age 81 of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. passes away January 20, 2018 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Don was born April 20, 1936 in Arcata, California. He graduated from Arcata High School and went to Humbolt State University where he majored in physics. While at the University, he was in the Navy ROTC and later the Naval Reserves.
One of his main interests as a young boy was electronics which put him in contact with the physics professor at HSU who was responsible for his entry into amateur radio (Ham), an interest all of his life. Don was a Volunteer for the American Red Cross serving with its amateur radio emergency service.
At 18 he joined his father as a volunteer fireman at the Arcata fire Department, serving through his college years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Poughkeepsie (Freedom Plains United PC).
Don was employed at Bell Telephone where he left for employment at IBM. He retired from IBM after 35 years in 1991. He was a senior engineer and second level manager. One of His awards at IBM was for developing and implementing a service processor and console for the 3158, which became a Field Engineering Division Tool for centralized equipment maintenance from a remote location. This opened new horizons in man-machine communications, equipment serving and simplified designs of additional features. "(IBM)".
On August 27, 1972, he married his loving wife Joan E. Kaiser of 46 years who survives. He is also survived his daughter, Judith Anne Hitt of Lansing, Iowa, two sons, John William Hitt (Amisha) of Poughkeepsie, James Michael Hitt (Shing Yn/Lisa) of Saginaw, Michigan, Don's siblings, Anne Louise Hitt of San Diego and Trinidad, California, Mary Hitt of Eureka, Ca.; his grandchildren, Tyler Cassidy Sisitsky(Brittany) Preston, Maryland, Mason Thomas Marinucci of Marlboro, New York, Karri Lyn Marinucci of Brooklun Park, Maryland, Allison Patricia Hitt of Rhinebeck, N.Y., Margaret Elaine Hitt of Saginaw Mi., Avaneesha John Hitt of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Step-grandchildren, Sarah & Ashley Marucci of Marlboro, NY, Shivendra Hitt of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., his great-grandchildren, Alisha, Cassidy, James, Morgan Sisitsky of Preston, Ma. He was predeceased by his father George and Mother, Louise (Krohn) Hitt of Eureka, Ca., and his brother, John (Jack) Hitt of Arcata, Ca.
His family will be receiving visitors on January 28, 2018 from 2 to 4 pm at the Wm. G. Miller & Son Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Phone number 845-485-0241. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com
The service will be on February 3, 2018 at the Chapel at 11:30 am at Restland Memorial Park, 77 DeForest Avenue, East Hanover, New Jersey 07938. Phone numbers 973-887-2050 or 973-879-5945.
On lieu of flowers, consider memorial donations to your charity or medical center's research fund for heart, kidney, or Guillian Barre's Syndrome.

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