Richard “Dick” Joseph Kretzschmar, P.E., 89, of Finksburg, MD, died peacefully late Wednesday evening, September 27, 2017 at the Carroll Hospice Dove House in Westminster. Born on February 4, 1928 in Baltimore, MD, he was the son of the late Oscar C. and Anna (Clark) Kretzschmar, both natives of Baltimore, with ancestors from Germany and Ireland, respectively. He was preceded in 2011 by his wife of 57 years, Rose T. Kretzschmar (O’Sullivan) of Lawrence, MA. Both Rose and Dick were faithful communicants of the Sacred Heart Church of Glyndon.
Dick attended Saint Edward’s Catholic School in the Walbrook neighborhood of Baltimore as a boy. He was a 1947 graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic High School and a National Honor Society member. In February 1947 he began a 41 year career with the City of Baltimore, Bureau of Water Supply as a surveyor aide. Drafted into the Army from 1950 to 1952, Dick served as a Sherman tank commander in Germany with the 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") where he rose from Private to Sergeant First Class, and was honorably discharged.
He returned to work at the City Water Department, and through night school earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 1960. He received his Professional Engineer license in 1962 and became the Water Engineer in 1965 by appointment from then Mayor McKeldin. He rose within the Department to Chief of Engineering until his retirement in 1988. He oversaw 800 employees and a massive expansion of the City’s water system; construction of the Ashburton Filtration Plant, the Susquehanna River raw water supply, and the Montebello Filtration Plant.
Dick held leadership roles in the American Water Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and American Public Works Association. His honors included the AWWA George Warren Fuller award, the APWA Samuel Greeley award, Meritorious Service Award – National Society of Professional Engineers, Tau Beta Pi Association national engineering honors, and was a Baltimore Sunpapers’ “Man of the Month” in 1966.
Rose and Dick travelled extensively during their retirements and enjoyed time with family and friends. He is survived by two sons, Frederick J. Kretzschmar, MD and wife Debbie of San Anselmo, CA and Thomas M. Kretzschmar and wife Mary Claire of Anchorage, AK; three grandchildren, Lauren Kretzschmar of San Anselmo and twins William and Anna Kretzschmar of Anchorage; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded by brothers Roland and Charles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (historic church), 65 Sacred Heart Lane, Glyndon, MD with Monsignor Lloyd Aiken as celebrant. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery in Reisterstown, MD. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. at the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, 91 Willis Street, Westminster.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Carroll Hospice Dove House, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD 21157.