Gerald M. Zeitlin, 77, of Oswego died Tuesday December 9, 2014 at his home. He was born in Philadelphia, PA. He was a graduate of Cornell University (BEE 1960, and the University of Colorado (MSEE 1969). He pursued further graduate studies in physics, astronomy, and astrophysics at the University of California, Berkeley. He devoted his energies to the Open SETI Initiative. Mr. Zeitlin had held a private pilot certificate since 1981. Mr. Zeitlin served in the United States Army, where was a 1st Lieutenant. Mr. Zeitlin was predeceased by his wife Mary Louise Zeitlin in 2013. Mr. Zeitlin is survived by his sister Susan Baer of PA, stepchildren Jennifer Kagan of Syracuse, and Eliot Kagan. Services and Burial were private. The Sugar Scanlon Funeral Home, 147 W. 4th St., is in care of the arrangements