I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come, as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave”- Beth Neilson Chapman “Sand and Water”
Sidney Lachlan Pitches, 98, beloved husband of 74 years, father, grand and great-grandfather, passed away in Roswell, GA, on January 18, 2019. He was born to James and Sarah (Sutherland) Pitches on February 17, 1920 in Glasgow, Scotland, and lived with his family in Dunoon until they emigrated to America in 1927. The family settled in Yonkers, NY, where as a young man Sid played semi-professional soccer for the Yonkers Rangers with his 3 older brothers. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1946, in Japan, Okinawa and Hawaii where he headed a Radio Intelligence Team in the Signal Corps.
Sid met the love of his life, Hazel Craft, at the Dayspring Presbyterian Church Christian Endeavor and they married while he was home on leave July 9, 1944, honeymooning in Ocean Grove, NJ, a place which was always dear to their hearts.
Upon his discharge from the Army he began his career at Western Electric (AT&T). He was a loyal employee who, in winter, carried a sleeping bag and provisions in the car in case the snow was too bad to drive home!
Sidney was a devoted Presbyterian, always involved in church life wherever he lived. He served as a Trustee, an Elder, Sunday School Superintendent, volunteering wherever needed, and with Hazel, sang in the choirs. His beautiful solos of O Holy Night at Christmas Eve services were poignant and much loved in the church. His family will always remember hearing him practice at home. He had a beautiful tenor voice.
His three children were born in Yonkers, and in 1956 the family took a train trip to California to visit Hazel’s sister and family. It was quite an adventure for all, and quite a testament to their parenting of three children aged 7, 4 and 3, staying in sleeping cars, and eating in the dining car. The Domeliner was a favorite car to watch the mountains go by, through its glass dome roof. Stories from this and other family trips remain favorites at get-togethers.
In 1958 the decision was made to leave the city, so a cozy house was built in Brewster, NY, and is where they raised the kids, and stayed until 1982.
Wonderful vacations were spent traveling and camping across the US, learning about so many places, and being awed by the beauty of the country and National Parks, from Acadia to Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Sequoia, Yosemite, and into Canada to Prince Edward Island.
Once the children were grown, and retirement was on the horizon, Sidney and Hazel bought a house in Ocean Grove, NJ where they joyously entertained family and friends beside their beloved ocean. Sid joined Four Shore, a barbershop quartet, and SPEBSQSA , of which he was a member for the next 25 years, travelling to places around the country for the National Barbershop conventions- Atlanta, Louisville, San Francisco, Calgary, Alberta, Canada and others! With Hazel he also sang in the Great Auditorium Chorus.
While in Ocean Grove, Sid and Hazel made their trip of a lifetime to Scotland to visit the place where Sid lived as a little boy, to tour the countryside, and enjoy the magnificence of the Edinburgh Tattoo, and Dunoon’s Cowal Highland Gathering celebration, with bagpipes playing and kilts flying!
As dearly as they loved their home in Ocean Grove, their daughter Ruth (Mark) and their grandchildren were in Boca Raton, FL, so that became their home for the next 5 years, where Sid joined a barbershop chorus, The Coastmen, and performed with them in yearly competitions. When his eldest grandson Adam was 14, Sid introduced him to Barbershop and they loved singing together, whether at bbshop, in the car, or around the dinner table! A joy for the whole family.
1994 brought a move to Richmond, KY to be near Jean & Leo, and spend time on their Blue Moon Farm, which he loved, helping get the garlic crop cleaned and ready for market each year. He also found joy in coaching little children’s soccer. Many happy memories were made together over the next 15 years.
A week of very precious memories were made in 2010, in celebration of Sid’s 90th birthday when the whole family gathered at a “mansion” on the beach in Ponte Vedra, FL, fondly referred to as the “Holey Moley”. Unbeknownst to anyone, it would be the last reunion of the entire family, as his son Stephen passed away the following year.
The final move came in 2010 to Roswell, GA, again to be near Ruth and Mark, who generously and lovingly gave of their time to assist Sid and Hazel in day-to-day living, and to make sure they had plenty of visits with the grand and great grandkids.
He will always be remembered for his deep love of his family, cheerful and willing nature, quick smile, and with a song always on his lips.
Sid was preceded in death by his much-loved son, Stephen (Brenda), his 3 brothers Harry, Jack and Horace, and one sister, Catherine King. He will be forever missed by his wife Hazel, daughters Ruth (Mark) Anderson, and Jean (Leo) Pitches-Keene, grandsons Adam (Jenn) Anderson and David (Dusty) Anderson, great-grandchildren Hagan, Riley, Ethan, Owen, Sydney, and Payton Anderson and Austin Marshall, one sister, Betty Blackmar, and many, many nieces and nephews all over the country.
No service has been planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Telford Love Fund, or Living Waters for the World Fund, First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 165, Richmond, KY 40476-0165
“I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough
And poppa, I don't think I said I love you near enough.
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band”- Dan Fogelberg “Leader of the Band”
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