Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Dave Kreitzer, passed away on Sunday, November 12, 2023. Dave was born on October 18,1929 in Dayton, Ohio to Robert W. Kreitzer and Lillian M. Kreitzer (Bush). In Dayton, he attended Fairview High School. With an interest in forestry, he worked part time for the forest department, while attending the University of Montana in Missoula from 1948-1952 and graduated with a B.A. degree in botany. While there, he enrolled in the University's ROTC program for four years and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation.

In 1953, Dave received orders to join the U.S. Air Force in Europe and was assigned to the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing stationed in Chaumont, France where he met the love of his life, Georgette Paulette Wojnilowicz. They were married on February 27, 1954. Dave was honorably discharged from the Air Force in October 1955, and remained in the reserves until 1965 earning a promotion to captain in 1959. He returned to Dayton and taught high school science for a year before enrolling in the University of Montana, obtaining his master's degree in education in 1957.

In 1958, he accepted employment with Harcourt Brace, a New York based college textbook publisher, as a sales representative for the Midwest, where he oversaw a territory of nine states and more than ninety colleges, starting in Ames, Iowa before moving to Edina, Minnesota in 1961. In the summer of 1965, he moved to San Diego, where he purchased a home in the newly developing community of Rancho Bernardo. In 1978, Dave left sales to do manuscript procurement in search of potential authors, and in 1980, he became the sales field manager for the western states. In May 1981, he was promoted to business manager for the San Diego office until his retirement on October 1, 1991, concluding a 33-year career with the company.

As a resident of Rancho Bernardo, Dave became active in environmental and civic organizations. In 1976, after three years as vice president of the Bernardo Homeowners Corporation, he became chairperson and championed many causes of importance to the community, such as opposing the City of San Diego's proposal to remove Rancho Bernardo's iconic olive trees. He was a member of the Rancho Bernardo Town Council from 1976-1978, and chairperson of the Rancho Bernardo Planning Board from 1979-1980, where his efforts ensured some of Rancho Bernardo's largest development projects conformed to the community's master plan.

In 1985, he was an early proponent of "smart growth" and chaired and won the City of San Diego's city-wide Proposition "A" initiative, which directed residential growth to areas with existing infrastructure avoiding urban sprawl. In March 1988, he was appointed to the San Diego County Planning Commission by Supervisor Susan Golding. Dave served until December 2008. His service of 20 years was longer than
any previous commissioner, being reappointed by subsequent supervisors due to his integrity and planning acumen. He ran for County Supervisor in 1992 in an effort to continue to advocate environmental causes.

In the mid 1980's, Dave was instrumental in the formation of the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, a group dedicated to creating a park and trail system from Del Mar to Vulcan Mountain in Julian, known as the Coast to Crest Trail. Today the park is over 70 miles long and is one of the county's largest preservations of natural resources and local heritage. In acknowledgement of his contribution to the River Park, the 990-foot bridge spanning Lake Hodges, the world's longest stress ribbon bridge, was named the David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge in May 2009.

Dave was an original parishioner at San Rafael Parish and served as an usher for over 20 years.

He had a love for travel and enjoyed visiting national parks and spending vacations with his wife and children in Montana, especially Flathead Lake and the Bitter Root Mountains. He also travelled throughout Europe, particularly in France. In his later years, he developed an interest in cruises, and especially enjoyed Alaska.

Dave made friends wherever he went and developed many long-standing friendships. He valued good friends and family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dave is survived by his wife, Georgette Kreitzer; their children Gary Kreitzer (Maxine) San Diego, John Kreitzer (Julie) Ferndale, Linda Erickson (Kent) San Diego, Lisa Cochran (John) San Diego; five grandchildren: Dave, Andrew, Elizabeth, Marissa, and Shelby; and three great grandchildren: Daniel, Jacob, and Caroline. He is preceded in death by his brothers Donald Kreitzer and Robert Kreitzer.

Contributions in his honor can be made to San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (SDRVC.org).

Services will be held at San Rafael Parish, 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:00 a.m. with reception to follow in the parish hall. Dave will be buried at the Miramar National Cemetery.