Andreas "Andy" Rechnitzer
Legendary diver proponent of Trieste Project: Nov. 30, 1924 - Aug. 22, 2005

Dr. Andreas "Andy" Rechnitzer was a visionary in diving with many credits, including a record dive in 1960 of 35,800 feet to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. He died at the age of 80 as a friend and legend in diving. Among his accomplishments:

• 35,800-foot dive in 1960 to the bottom of the Marianas Trench in the bathyscaph Trieste off the coast of Guam

• 18,500-foot record dive in 1959 to gather scientific data on the transmission of man-made sounds.

• Joined Trieste colleagues for the Presidential Distinguished Citizen Service award from President Eisenhower.

• Member of the Naval Ocean Systems Center, transitioned from the Naval Electronics Laboratory's Deep Submergence Research Program.

• Dr. Rechnitzer was co-developer of the first scuba-diver training program for ocean scientists.

• Co-author of "Diving Training and Field Procedures Syllabus."

• In 1990, Dr. Rechnitzer helped Edward C. Cargile, an author and ocean-diving historian, produce "The Deepest Dive" for the History Channel. The story was about the Trieste.

• Helped discover the Monitor, in 1974. The Civil War era ironclad ship sunk in 1862 off Hampton Roads, Virginia.

• Was founding president of the Orange County Marine Institute at Dana Point.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; daughter, Andrea Fry of Spring Valley; sons, David Rechnitzer of Fullerton, Martin Rechnitzer of Burleson, Texas, and Michael Rechnitzer of El Cajon; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. A memorial service was held at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

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