Dwight A. Anttila

Dwight passed away at home on Saturday, March 18, 2017 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born March 2, 1954 in Peterborough, NH, the son of the late Orville R. and Faith E. Anttila. He grew up in Ashby, MA, where he was a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He enjoyed playing basketball at Ashby High school. Dwight graduated from North Middlesex Regional H.S. in Townsend, MA and the University of NH, with a degree in Parks and Recreation.

Dwight came to Wilmington, DE in 1977 to take a job as a ranger at Brandywine Creek State Park (BCSP), eventually becoming Park Superintendent from 1989 to 2013. He then became Park Superintendent at Bellevue State Park for 3 years, until his retirement in June 2016. In his career at the Parks Dwight oversaw several large annual public events including fishing derbies for individuals with disabilities, 10 consecutive Civil War reenactments, dozens of large scale cross country events, and 20 years of Halloween Haunted Trails.

Dwight loved reading and U.S. Civil War and Revolutionary War history. He enjoyed fishing as a kid and fly-fishing as an adult. He was also an avid photographer.

Dwight is survived by his loving wife, Donna; her children, Rachel Booz (Brett Martin), Regina Hay (Tim) and Jared Booz (Lizz); grandchildren, Jake, Sierra, Hayston, Tehya and Greyson; his brother, Scott (Dee Witham) and two nieces. He is also survived by Donna's parents and many extended family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 22 at BCSP Nature Center, 41 Adams Dam Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803 where visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Donations in Dwight's name can be made to Delaware Hospice, 16 Polly Drummond Center, 2nd floor, Polly Drummond Shopping Center, Newark, DE 19711.