William Lichtler

William Francis Lichtler Jr., “Bill” passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at the age of 96 in Orlando, Florida. Born in Fort Lee, New Jersey on December 29, 1924 to William and Irma (Szabo) Lichtler, Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  Bill grew up in Fort Lee, New Jersey and in Marlboro, New York.  He went to Marlboro High School in Marlboro and went on to receive his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Syracuse University.  He served in the United States Army in World War II and received a purple heart when he was wounded during the fighting in Italy. Bill was a hydrogeologist for the USGS, conducting the first hydro-geological survey of Central Florida from his Florida room. He made fundamental contributions to the understanding of Central Florida’s water resources in the publication “Appraisal of Water Resources in the East Central Florida Region”, among many other publications.

Bill’s family was the joy of his life.  He is survived by his five children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.   His oldest son, Alexander Lichtler, PhD is a retired molecular biologist, living with his wife Robin Schwartz, Bill’s grand-daughter Julia and her husband Britton, and great-grand-daughters Lilly and Holly in Durham, N.C. His granddaughter and Rebecca and her fiancéé Hans Kuebler live in New Orleans, LA.  Bill’s second child, Marian Lichtler, is a retired wildlife biologist living in Orlando, FL.  Janet Lichtler, his second daughter, is a retired cable troubleshooter living in Richmond, VA.  Robin Howell, RNC, his third daughter, is a labor and delivery nurse living in Sugar Grove, N.C. with her husband, Dave. Bill’s grandson Schuyler, his wife Savannah, and Bill’s great-grandson Will live in Fairfield, California.  Bill’s youngest son Gary is a Health Department Supervisor, living along with his wife Laura in Panama City, FL.  He was predeceased by his wife, Jean, who was the love of his life for 60 years, his brother Lester Lichtler, and his two sisters, Mildred McCarter, and Eleanor Mazzoleni, who were all very much missed.

As a husband and father Bill kept a family of seven together through thick and thin, trials and tribulations, and great joy and comfort, living in New York, Florida, Virginia, Nebraska, South Carolina, and back to Florida.   He enjoyed gardening, visiting museums, and reading every sign, history, reading scientific and technical journals, lobster, good steak, and adventurous foods. He loved his house in the mountains and reading on the porch. More than anything else he loved being with family, traveling in the summer to Marlboro in his earlier years and then to visit his children who were spread out over the country. No memorial services will take place until he will be interred at a family plot at Spring Lake Cemetery in Rockland, MA. later.