Brigitte Whittle, 85
February 3rd, 1940 to August 8, 2025
MYSTIC: Brigitte Whittle was born on February 3rd, 1940, the daughter of Anton and Anna Bishoff.
Brigitte spent her last week on Earth working, walking, baking, and cooking, while enjoying friends, family, good food, good wine, and good fortune. On Friday, Brigitte finished her work and joined her husband, Bob Whittle, in Heaven. “You took your time,” he will say with a mischievous grin. “There was still work to do,” she’ll reply.
Brigitte’s work started in 1945, when a conquering army was rolling through Murnau, Germany, and a handsome American soldier threw a charming five-year-old girl some candy. She caught it, opened it, and had her first-ever taste of chocolate before her anxious father could stop her. “Ich gehe nach Amerika,” she told her astonished parents. God’s hand had just put Brigitte on the path to meet Bob Whittle, who was thirteen years old at the time, picking corn on the family farm in Mystic, CT.
Bob and Brigitte met in 1963, when Bob asked her out and she said, “Hmmm, let me think… No.” Brigitte was highly intelligent, with movie star good looks and charisma, so Bob went to work on getting her to think that he was in her league.
Bob and Brigitte married in January 1965 and started a family. Brigitte delivered Rick later that year, unleashing a force of nature onto the farm. Two and a half years later, she delivered Bob Jr., who quickly learned to defend himself against his older brother.
Brigitte taught her children that there was no obstacle that they could not overcome, no goal that they could not reach. The national bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, highlighted Brigitte’s ability to instill strength and determination into her family.
Rick would go on to take the farm over and simultaneously found several other successful businesses, including Allied Snow Removal Corp, a multi-state operation that employs hundreds of workers. Bob Jr. graduated from West Point, served two tours in Iraq, two tours in Afghanistan, one tour in Bosnia, earned three bronze stars, completed his military service as a two-star general, and is now the Chief of Staff of USAA, a Fortune 100 company. Each brother claims that the other is just like their mother.
Brigitte led the team working at the stand at Whittle’s Willow Spring Farm for many years. She ran sales, inventory, and customer service, while still finding time to pick shell beans and run the ‘pick your own strawberries’ event. Customers loved her, and though she had retired years ago, regulars still asked about her every day. Simultaneously, she provided tremendous support to her family and the community. Brigitte volunteered in scouting for twelve years, starting as a Pack 2 Den Mother in 1974, and culminating as the Troop 2 Committee Chair in 1986.
Brigitte was a master of the lost art of home economics. She was able to make a dollar go far and found a way to buy every necessity on sale or with a coupon. Those savings were what enabled her and Bob to take their children on trips to Italy and Germany while they were growing up.
Brigitte had an enthusiasm for life that was contagious. She had many hobbies that she enjoyed and shared with her children and grandchildren. She swam a mile in the pond behind her house every day after work. She was a master quilter and made quilts for all her children and grandchildren. Brigitte traveled extensively around the world and loved spending time in her cabin in New Hampshire. When she was close to 60 years old, she learned how to snowboard, and then taught her grandchildren to do it. Brigitte skied cross-country all the way up to the age of 80.
Brigitte is survived by her sons, Rick Whittle (fiancé Gina Reed) and Bob Whittle (Kathleen Whittle); her former-daughter-in-law, Judy Whittle; five grandchildren, Frederick Whittle III (Rebecca Whittle), Olivia Whittle (Doug Howard), Phillip Whittle (Jade Whittle), Austin Whittle, and Avery Whittle; and two great-grandchildren, Freddy and Beau. Additionally, Brigitte is survived by her sister, Marianna Oswald, and her brother, Adi Bischoff.
Calling hours will be on Saturday, August 16th, from 4 PM to 6 PM, at the Dinoto Funeral Home on 17 Pearl St., Mystic, CT. Rick and Bob will make remarks at 5:00 PM. A reception will be held afterwards at 6:00 PM at the Mystic VFW on 60 Stonington Rd., Mystic, CT, 06355. Donations may be made in memory of Brigitte Whittle to the Mystic Chapter of the VFW at the above address.