Rupert Mark Mitsch

Rupert Mark Mitsch Of Alexandria, VA, passed away on Sunday, December 9 at home with his family. Survived by his beloved wife, Frances Henderson; loving daughters Anna (William) Molino and Rebecca (Matthew Kaplan) Mitsch; cherished grandson Carter Molino; close and loving extended family in Scotland, Canada, and Germany; and a wealth of friends around the United States. He was preceded in death by his mother Anna Mitsch and his father Jakob Mitsch.

Born in Queens, NY on July 15, 1955, the only son of German immigrants, Rupert was a true New Yorker, adopting the nickname “Bobby” as a boy on the streets of College Point and discovering Manhattan as a teen. A longtime pizza enthusiast, he determined that Joe’s in Greenwich Village had the best New York slice around. He lived in Alexandria, VA for most of his adult life, after joining the Civil Division of the Department of Justice in 1984. During his 34 years as a trial attorney in the Torts Branch, he worked on several notable cases, including the Oklahoma City bombing and the Hurricane Katrina litigation. 

While committed to his work, Rupert was also a devoted family man, who loved to travel and to share his love of the outdoors with his wife and daughters on numerous cross-country trips to America’s national parks.  He supported his daughters’ interests and contributed to the local community, coaching girls’ recreational soccer for more than a decade. When he wasn’t working or with his family, you could find him at a D.C. United soccer game, on a bike ride, hiking in Shenandoah National Park, or applying his amateur photography skills to a variety of subjects. Rupert’s most cherished recent role was that of Opa. He will be greatly missed by Carter but will be remembered with love.   

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rupert’s memory to DC SCORES, the official charitable partner of D.C. United, which operates programs for lower income children in Washington, D.C. combining soccer skills, poetry workshops, and service learning in their community.

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