Past President & Licensing Board Member, John R. "Dick" Witmer Passes

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Past President John R. ("Dick") Witmer on July 6, 2026. Dick was a founding member of Macris, Hendricks and Witmer, and later left that firm, eventually starting his own business, Witmer Associates, LLC. According to his entry in the 50^th anniversary edition of “The Maryland Surveyor,” as MSS president in 1992, he was unhappy with the level of support and computerization by the executive director's office and so advertised the M.S.S. management contract for bids. Three firms submitted offers and made presentations to the M.S.S. Board of Directors. The clear winner, and new Executive Director of the Society, was Smith-Mead Associates of Baltimore, with Bob Mead as the man in charge.  Dick presided during a year of terrible wrenching strife within ACSM and NSPS which threatened to tear those two organizations apart and also have an impact on M.S.S.  During his presidency, Marc Cheves became volunteer editor of "The Maryland Surveyor," a function previously performed by the old executive director (but not put into the contract of the new one), and thusly transformed the M.S.S. Newsletter.  Dick also was appointed in 1995 to serve on the Maryland Board for Professional Surveyors.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 2 PM at the Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD.

Above is an early pic of Dick with his partners at MHW and the fellow who became partner when Dick left to go out on his own. From Left to Right: Jim Hendricks, John Macris, Dick Witmer, & Jim Glasscock. Picture courtesy of MHG, PA.