Donald H. Fortnum ’58 PhD

Donald H. Fortnum ’58 PhD, of Gettysburg, Pa.; Feb. 2. He began teaching chemistry at Ursinus College in 1958. In 1965 he joined the chemistry faculty at Gettysburg College and was appointed a full professor in 1972, when  he was also selected to Outstanding Educators of America. He retired in 2000. At Gettysburg his final exams were filled with challenging equations but also inspiring quotations and jokes served with a table full of snacks, including homemade chocolate chip cookies—his motto being “when the chips are down, down the chips.” A member of the Gettysburg United Methodist Church, he was active in leadership roles and taught Sunday school classes for many years. He enjoyed photography and participating in the Washington Apple Pi and the Keystone MacCentral user’s groups. He is survived by four children and their spouses, four grandchildren, two brothers and their spouses, and several nieces and nephews.