Harry Pitt, GSEHD BS ’52, MA ’55, EdD ’65, who was regarded as a careful steward of Montgomery County Public Schools during his term as superintendent from 1987 to 1991, died Dec. 3 at his home in Rockville.
After teaching in Arlington County, Dr. Pitt joined Montgomery County Public Schools in 1962 as an assistant principal and ascended the administrative ranks. He was deputy superintendent for seven years before being named to the top job overseeing one of the country’s premier school districts. It also was one of the nation’s largest, with about 100,000 students. His long tenure in the school system made him a respected insider in a county known for high-achieving schools that send many students on to elite colleges. He had raised three children who went to county schools, and his wife was a media specialist in Montgomery school libraries.
As superintendent, Dr. Pitt helped mend ties with the Board of Education, created programs to help new teachers adjust to the system and substantially expanded the county’s all-day kindergarten programs. After retiring from the Montgomery schools, Dr. Pitt started and taught in a master’s program in education administration at Hood College in Frederick. One of his favorite pastimes was lifting weights. He ordered his first weight set through the Sears catalogue when he was 13 and participated in weight-lifting meets throughout his life, most recently at age 80.
His wife of 42 years, Babette Vogel “Babs” Pitt, died in 2002. Survivors include three children, Jeff Pitt of Centreville, Va., Joel Pitt of Rockville and Robbie Pitt of the District; and six grandchildren.
Read a full tribute at the Washington Post.
Good for her. I couldn’t help but imagine a mic drop at the end of that.