Kenneth J. Zitomer, 82, chief Water Department engineer

Kenneth J. Zitomer, 82, of East Oak Lane, a retired commissioner and chief engineer of the Philadelphia Water Department, died of heart failure at home Nov. 12.

During more than 30 years with the Water Department, Mr. Zitomer was a division engineer and was in charge of construction and design. He was named chief engineer in 1972. Before retiring in 1982, he significantly expanded the city's water-treatment facilities, his son Daniel said.

Until the late 1990s, Mr. Zitomer was an adjunct professor in the civil and architectural engineering department at Drexel University and worked as a consultant. He also had lectured at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. His published work included articles on sludge removal, water-borne diseases, wastewater management and tunnel construction. He was active in many professional organizations and was a past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Mr. Zitomer graduated from Frankford High School. During World War II, he attended Penn, Ursinus College and Villanova University in the Navy V-12 program to train officers. After earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Penn in 1948, he was a track-maintenance supervisor for the Reading Railroad for five years.

Since 1952, Mr. Zitomer had been married to Marie Pearson Zitomer. While their children were growing up, he was active with the Olney Midget Baseball League.

He enjoyed caring for his summer home in Avalon, N.J., and his home in East Oak Lane, and he was cleaning gutters when he became ill, his son said.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Zitomer is survived by sons Charles and William; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. A daughter, Mary Styles, died in June.

The funeral was Monday at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks Memorial Chapel in Philadelphia.