The Reverend Carl F. Thitchener

The Reverend Carl F. Thitchener was ordained as a Unitarian Universalist Minister in 1980. In 1981, he was called to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst in Williamsville, NY. In January 2003, he was named Minister Emeritus of that congregation. He served as Co-Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua until his death on February 15, 2008 at the age of 75.

Carl also served on the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association and on the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries. In addition, he served on the Executive Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Minister's Association, the Board of Trustees of the Starr King School for the Ministry, as President of the St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education, as Co-Minister of the Waterloo County Unitarian Fellowship in Waterloo, Ontario (Canada), and as Interim Co-Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY.

Carl was awarded a Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in 1953 and a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California in 1980. He was born in Rochester, NY on March 31, 1932. In 1958, he joined the First Unitarian Church of Rochester where he was an active lay-person in that congregation for over twenty years. Carl taught in the church school, chaired the annual fund drive, acted as advisor to the youth group, served on the Board of Trustees, and was a frequent lay-speaker before being called to the ministry. Prior to entering the ministry, he was a pioneer in the early microfilm information retrieval industry as Founder and President of Specialized Business Services, Inc.

Carl is survived by his wife and beloved life partner of 53 years, Maureen Quinlan Thitchener, and their three daughters: Karyn Quinlan (partner Alan), Lynn Thitchener, Susan Levine (husband Jeff), and their son, Michael Carl Thitchener, and two granddaughters, Tegan Thitchener Kehoe and Kelley Levine.

There will be two Memorial Services to honor and celebrate Carl's life:

Donations in Carl's name may be sent to Compassionate Care, P.O. Box 123, Canandaigua, NY 14424.