David Tillman Stitt ’64

David Tillman Stitt ’64 died May 10 in Wilmington, N.C., after suffering a heart attack while vacationing in Topsail Beach, N.C. Judge Stitt, a well-known figure in legal circles, served as the Fairfax (Va.) county attorney for nearly a dozen years, as president of the Fairfax Bar Association for a year, and as a circuit court judge for almost 13 years. He was also known as a dedicated outdoorsman, enjoying hiking, boating, playing tennis, or commandeering players for a bar association volleyball tournament. His son recently qualified for the U.S. Olympic rowing team, and Judge Stitt had been hoping to travel to Beijing this summer. David was born in St. Louis and, when he was two, moved to Austin, where he was raised. He graduated from Davidson, where he played freshman basketball for then-coach Lefty Driesell. He entered the Army and served as a Ranger during the Vietnam War. He received his law degree from the University of Texas in 1969 and moved to Washington, where he worked first in the corporation counsel’s office, then as an assistant U.S. attorney. He became an assistant county attorney in Fairfax in 1975, was appointed county attorney in 1980, and left that job for private practice in 1991. Judge Stitt was a regular at state and local bar association functions, organizing so many volleyball tournaments that the local bar’s volleyball trophy is named for him. He also spoke regularly to law school classes about the need for civility and professionalism in the courtroom. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Stitt, 6503 Smoot Dr., McLean, VA 22101; and two children, Samuel T. Stitt and Rachel Elmendorf.