Dr. Fred Earl Witmer, of Arnold, MD, passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at the age of 81.

Fred is survived by his daughters: Kendra Leigh, Tara Renee Murphy, and Bix Margaret; sons: Garth Drew and Dirk Earl; and his sister, Susan Taylor. He was also the proud grandfather of four grandchildren.

Fred was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on November 2, 1936. He graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD and received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland. He went on to a career in nuclear technology, working for the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration to develop and implement procedures around the safe handling of nuclear materials. Fred was instrumental in the creation of a first of its kind joint Russia-U.S.  program on nuclear safety.

Fred was an avid Maryland Terps basketball and Washington Redskins football fan. He enjoyed being on the water and life on the Magothy River.