Warren A. Witte

Witte—Warren A. Witte, 74, on December 17, 2014, at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., of an acute respiratory infection. Warren was born August 2, 1940, in Wauwatosa, Wis., the youngest of three children born to Gertrude and Arthur Witte. He graduated from University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1964 and the next year married Patricia Anderson, a nurse he had met while she was working on a Native American reservation. The both took jobs with American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and worked in Des Moines, Iowa; Philadelphia, Pa.; Denver, Colo.; and Seattle, Wash. In 1969, he and Patricia represented the organization in Hong Kong. Warren offered aid and social assistance throughout the United States. He especially developed educational and assistance programs for Native American in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest and managed public relations for AFSC while working in Philadelphia. A member of Chestnut Hill Meeting in Philadelphia, he was an energetic advocate for Bosnians affected by war in their home country in the 1990s, hosting with his wife two Bosnian students. He also founded and served on the board of the Community of Bosnia in Philadelphia. In 1992, he was named executive director of Friends Services for the Aging.

After retiring in 2006, he continued to assist Bosnians, the Friends Board Training and Support Project, Chandler Hall, and George School. He indulged his talent for photography and enjoyed classical music, gadgetry, hiking in the mountains, and dogs. Saying that social service was his passion, his daughter said that he had an “ability to detect and bring out the best in everyone.” Patricia died in 2011 of pancreatic cancer. In 2012, he married Yoma Ullman, who lived in his Newtown retirement community, Pennswood Village. She shared his passion for photography, and they enjoyed trips through the United States and Europe.

Warren is survived by his wife, Yoma Ullman; his children, Gail Witte and Eric Witte; two nieces; two grandsons; and a sister. Memorial gifts can be made to Pennswood Village Fellowship Fund at pennswood.org and Mercer Street Friends at mercerstreetfriends.org.