Alexander Whitaker "Whit" Pitcher, Sr.

What is an ampere???? One definition says it is….”a unit of electrical current, a familiar and indispensable quantity in everyday life”.

That definition perfectly captures my husband, our father and sibling, relative, and dear friend, Whit Pitcher, who suddenly passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. Everyone who knew Whit felt his presence…his gentle vibe, his reverberation. It filled a room, but in the best of ways.  He loved his family, those related by marriage and blood and those connected through friendship. He was a rock. He was gentle, perceptive, resolute. We lived for his bear hugs.

Whit was an immensely talented musician, a skilled mechanic, and a designer of tube amplifiers. He loved to learn new things and was always tinkering with motorcycles, cars, amps, and his guitars. He could fix the heating and install bathroom tiles. He was consumed by how much things cost and was always trying to save money, so he learned to do things himself.

Alexander Whitaker Pitcher was born in Charleston, SC on May 7th, 1952, to Elizabeth Gainey Pitcher and Charles Scholey Pitcher. Whit always lived life by his own rules.  He attended, and got kicked out of, or quit, numerous schools because he was a non-conformist. After attending the University of South Carolina and The College of Charleston, he graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Speech Communication. Coming of age at the end of the 1960s, Whit refused to cut his hair (it all fell out anyway) and he challenged the status quo through his music and his style.  He played in numerous bands such as the Twin River Band, ZGulp, Hoppin’ John, and The Detectives, all around the Low Country, the South, Colorado, and beyond.  He was the consummate guitar player and musician, who was always searching for a great tone.

Whit met the love of his life, Sarah Wilson Pitcher, at Auburn University in 1990. They married on the beach at Sullivan’s Island in 1991 and literally lived happily ever after. After settling in Winston Salem in 1993, they had two boys, Alex and Wil. Whit initially produced sound for Ziggy’s, a live music venue.  He later did website design for the city of Winston Salem then worked for many years at Inmar, a data platform company. In 2016, he founded and created Pitcher Amplification, in which he custom built vacuum tube amplifiers for guitarists.

Whit’s friends have been generous with their comments on Facebook.  One remembered that Whit built a Harley Davidson chopper from scratch when he was 18 or 20 years old. He was carrying a picture of that chopper in his wallet when he met his wife, Sarah. Another appreciated his outspoken support on Facebook for the “war torn, the hungry, the unsheltered, the oppressed….”  Another noted “His legacy will live on as one of the most valued members of this music community and beyond. We love you Whit.”

Whit is survived by his wife, Sarah, his sons Alex and Wil, his sisters Anne and Parnell, as well as his beloved niece, Alida; numerous nieces, nephews and in laws. The community in Winston-Salem and Charleston loved Whit. Whit was an easy friend to have…effortless. Thanks to Jill, Liz, Joel, David, Brad, David, B. Ellen and Sarah’s twin, Webb. Whit is smiling right now. Loving him was easy. Thank you for all the support we’ve had both in the community and beyond.

Whit’s soul encompassed so much and so many.

Don’t do solid state. Tube amps all the way.