David Robert Gretz

David R. Gretz, age 67, of Stuart, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Dave graduated from Bishop Boyle High School in Homestead, PA, in 1977. He went into the Navy and became an Aviation Structural Mechanic – Egress Systems (He worked on the ejection seats!) He went to Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. When he graduated, he obtained his A&P License (Airframes and Powerplants/Engines) and moved to Florida in the early 80’s. He worked for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in their military division (testing the J-58, the engine for the SR-71) and then commercial division (testing the engine for the Boeing 777). He was laid off and worked for Perry Tritech, Stuart, FL, manufacturing deep sea submersibles. He went back to P&W to their Rocket Division (which subsequently sold numerous times!) He helped build the engines that launched the New Horizons Spacecraft that explored Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. He retired on 8 December 2025 from L3 Harris Technologies. He was an AVID photographer (avid isn’t a strong enough a word!). He loved planes, trains, and automobiles! He went to many air shows and museums (his favorite was the US Air Force National Museum in Dayton, OH.) He saw many working steam locomotives and went to many train museums across the country. (He was originally scheduled to be in Pgh for some family events when Big Boy came!) He would go to auto shows (the biggest of which was the Turkey Run in Orlando, FL, Thanksgiving weekend, which registered some 3,000 automobiles) and museums throughout the country. He traveled for work and for leisure – and often both simultaneously, always finding some place to visit in his off hours from work! He enjoyed woodworking, having hand-built all the furniture in his living room as well as rocket models. David was born in Pittsburgh to the late Walter and Mary Margret Gretz; dear brother of Janet Marie (Greg) Springer and Fr. James R. Gretz; uncle of Dr. Daniel (Amanda) Springer, Kevin (Allison) Springer, Michelle (TJ) Reilly, Jeffrey (Rosemary) Springer; great uncle to five; he is also preceded in death by 2 infant brothers. Friends will be received on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Bock Funeral Home, Ltd., 1500 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Matthew Parish, St. Bonaventure Church, Glenshaw, on Friday at 10:00 AM. A livestream of the Mass will be available via www.saintmatthewpgh.org and on the parish Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.