William Victor "Bill" Vitale passed away on May 27, 2025 after living 96 remarkable years. Bill was a man of rare strength, not only of body but of mind, will, and character. He had a knack for finding roles where his unique combination of traits and skills would be assets, and then leaving his mark. Bill died as he wished, in his home, having spent his last days surrounded by his beloved family.

Bill was born on August 5, 1928 to Maria Natalina (née Pannozzo) and Angelo Vitale, Italian immigrants from the village of Lenola. The second youngest of nine surviving children, Bill grew up in the town of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, where the family lived over their restaurant, Vitale's Bar and Grill. Young Bill was industrious - he held many part-time jobs while growing up, including running the news stand before school and gigging on drums at local establishments with a crusty old piano player named Lou. When World War II broke out, Bill's older brothers enlisted, as did Bill once he was of age. He joined the Army Air Corps and had just finished basic training in Texas when the war ended.

After brief stints in the Air Force band and an administrative unit, Bill was selected to serve in the newly created office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. He served as an administrative aide to the first five Secretaries of Defense, including General George C. Marshall. General Marshall became an important mentor for Bill, and with his encouragement, Bill pursued his bachelors and law degrees, both from American University in Washington, D.C. Amazingly, Bill's schedule at the Pentagon was adjusted each semester by his superior officers so that he could attend classes as needed. In a history class, he was smitten with one of his classmates - a vivacious, honey-blonde beauty. Her name was Sue, and unbeknownst to him, she was taken with him as well. "He was so dashing!" she always recalled, even decades later. The reserved Sgt. Vitale finally made his move while waiting in line to register for classes the next semester, and 3 months later, Sue agreed to be his wife. They graduated together and were married in 1953, the beginning of a remarkable partnership that would last for 62 years.

After law school, Bill worked as a lawyer at the Department of the Army for a time before applying to a federal government program that promised to fast-track CPAs and lawyers up the management ladder in the civil service. First assigned to the Atomic Energy Commission, he progressed rapidly to Chief of the Administrative Branch and was eventually recruited to NASA in 1962, where he became the Director of the Management Division for Administrator James E. Webb. This led to another promotion - this time at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he eventually served as Executive Secretary, Director of Airports Service, and Director of Airports Standards. These assignments included supervision of Washington National and Dulles airports and direction of a multi-billion dollar grant program for airport construction and planning for airports all over the country.

Sue and Bill had become parents during this period, welcoming their only child, Cindy, with delight. As she grew, all, including Cindy herself, remarked at how like her dad she was! Bill often taught by example, doing the right thing even when it was hard, continuing General Marshall's legacy of integrity and generosity. Influenced by her dad's involvement with astronautics and aeronautics at NASA and the FAA, Cindy became an aerospace engineer. As busy as his responsibilities kept him, Bill never allowed his work to make him less present for Cindy, who remembers him as an involved and dedicated father throughout her life.

Bill concluded his long career as a government executive as the Executive Secretary at the Department of Energy (DOE). He was known throughout his life for his fierce advocacy for others, regardless of their position, gender, or race. Of particular note was his championing of clerical staff for promotion to management, unusual at the time. He was so well-loved by his staff that his tenure at DOE was still called "The Vitale Era" even decades after his retirement.

While often reserved, Bill had a great sense of humor that would come out when he warmed up. He is fondly remembered for his ability to raise an eruption of laughter from all with a single well-timed remark. His grandchildren particularly delighted in his jokes and his ability to wiggle his ears. Bill enjoyed people, and knew connection was what mattered, in business and life.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sue, his parents Angelo and Maria Natalina Vitale, his elder sisters Viola Statler, Elinor Nessly, Mary Walker, and Anna Sechler, elder brothers Robert, James, and Thomas Vitale, younger brother Richard Vitale, and godson Thomas Robertson. He is survived and missed by his daughter, Cindy Lewis, and her husband Neal Lewis, granddaughter Amanda Lewis Hamer and her husband Jesse Hamer, grandson Evan Lewis and his wife Kate Lewis, and his great-grandson and namesake, Theodore William Lewis. He is also survived by niece Cheryl Stanek and her husband Bob, niece Linda Allison and her husband Tex, nephew Bob Vitale and his partner Jacki, Sue's niece Karen Hall and her husband Ray, Sue's niece Jane Wills and her husband John, Sue's niece Dori Ely and her husband Gregg, Sue's nephews Michael Hall, Andy Pitz and Scott Pitz, his grand-niece Christine Hopman and fiance Ray Muth, and many cousins and "honorary grandchildren" all over the world.

A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 10:30 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia, with a reception to follow. A graveside service with full military honors will take place on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Ss. Philip and James Catholic cemetery in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USO or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.