LTCOL William F. Santiff, USAF RET

November 26, 1945 – July 15, 2022

Willliam Santiff passed away quietly at his home, after a brief battle with Leukemia.  Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, son of Joseph Francis Santiff and Eunice Olbeter Santiff, both deceased.  Bill, as he liked to be called, graduated Syracuse University in 1968, receiving a BS in Electronics Engineering and a Commission in the United States Air Force as Second Lieutenant.  His first tour of duty was at Patrick Air Force Base, where he worked on the Apollo Space Program.  His second tour was at Hanscom Air Force Base, outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where he continued his work in Electronic Warfare Systems.   On his third tour of duty at Andrews Air Force Base, he met the woman who would become his wife—Linda Mae Keesee, a native Southern Maryland woman.  They married in May of 1977 and made Calvert County their permanent home in 1979.

In addition to meeting and marrying Linda, Bill completed coursework and was awarded a master’s in management graduate degree from Central Michigan University.  Soon thereafter, Bill was transferred to Arlington, Virginia, to work on the Tomahawk Cruise missile Program.  In 1981, Linda gave birth to their first daughter, Katharine Adele Santiff, at Andrews Air Force Base.  Then, in 1982, Bill received a dream assignment that took him and his young family to serve at Hickam Air Force Base, on Oahu, HI.  Shortly thereafter, their family size grew again after the birth of their second daughter, Kristen Marie Santiff.  In 1985, they returned to the continental US and Bill served an additional 5 years at the Pentagon.  In 1991, he retired from active military service, after having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Bill continued to serve his country by working an additional 19 years in the DoD Industry.

He was an active member of his home church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, MD.  While there, he founded WMJS-LP, in the basement of St. Paul’s Parish Hall, and WMJS to this date remains the only FM radio station in Calvert County.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Santiff.  He is also survived by two adult daughters, Katharine Santiff and Kristen Santiff.

Rausch Funeral Home, in Port Republic, Maryland is hosting family, friends, and community members of Bill Santiff for a Viewing and Visitation, on Friday July 22nd, at two different times: 2-4pm and 6-8pm.

Bill’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 23, at 11am, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland (25 Church Street, Prince Frederick, Maryland 20678).