Howard T. Dittemer
Passed away on May 12, 2026
Howard T. Dittemer passed away on May 12, 2026 at home at the age of 95. Born in Linden, NJ, Howard was the 2nd oldest of 4 children of Charles and Olga Dittemer. In his teens, Howard served as a lifeguard at Wheeler Park in Linden and graduated from Linden High School. He went on to run a gas station with his brothers for a short while and then joined the Navy Reserves. After the reserves, Howard married and eventually moved to Iselin, raising 6 children, including 2 sets of twins. Although 6 was a handful, he managed to ensure family camping trips took place every year, traveling anywhere from Nova Scotia to N. Carolina and all the historic sites and state parks in between.
Howard did not know everything, but he knew a lot about many things. He knew how to do home renovations, fix cars, masonry, make toys and furniture, develop film, and was a hard worker. He taught all his children to swim which would be an important skill since his favorite hobby was fishing. He taught all the kids to fish and enjoyed going on the party boats in Atlantic Highlands, NJ with his sons, as well as fishing at Farrington Lake.
He enjoyed many other hobbies as well. For many years, Howard made his own wine, labeling the bottles with Chateau Howie, and always sharing with friends and family. He had a green thumb and was an avid backyard gardener. In retirement, Howard also enjoyed woodworking and made many holiday decorations, and puzzles for children.
Early on Howard worked at AirTron and then went on to work at General Dynamics as a master blueprint reader and foreman, and retired from Valcor Engineering. Shortly after retirement, Howard moved from NJ to Inverness, FL where he met his second wife, Jean. He enjoyed a full 30 years of retirement spending winters in Florida and summers in Indiana.
He is survived by and will be missed by his 6 children: Thomas Dittemer, George Dittemer, Laura Lutz, Susan Wise and husband Paul, Patricia Nigro and husband Daniel, Peggy DiCapua, and special niece Ellen Dittemer. Howard is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Howard was predeceased by his wife Anita “Jean” McNeal, his grandson Christopher DiCapua, brothers Martin and Charles Dittemer, and sister Ruth Archer.