James A. Bortner, 86

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Captain James A. Bortner, USN (ret.), of Chestertown, died on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. He was 86.

Born in York, Pa., he was the son of Earl Jennings Bortner and Emma Mary Shaub Bortner.

Mr. Bortner enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1942 and he served throughout World War II.

After the war, he attended Bucknell University, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics and physics.

Recalled to active duty for the Korean War, Mr. Bortner attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and graduate schools at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, Calif.

His duty stations varied geographically to include Massachusetts, Florida, Guam, California, and Maryland.

Mr. Bortner's assignments included serving as chairman of the Electrical Engineering Program at the U.S. Naval Academy and Executive Officer at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.

After retiring in 1974, he taught math, physics, and electronics at several schools and universities in Maryland, including Anne Arundel Community College and Chesapeake College.

Mr. Bortner was a life-long Mason and active member of the Zeredatha Lodge of York, Pa.

He was also a HAM radio operator, operating under the call letters WA3UJE, and was very active in the Anne Arundel and Kent County Radio Clubs.

Mr. Bortner served many years on the vestry of St. Paul's Church in Chestertown and St. Anne's Church in Annapolis.

As a 27-year resident of Kent County, he was deeply involved in restoration of the local waterways, Actor's Community Theatre, and other local charities and organizations.

An avid reader, he loved the challenge of a good Scrabble game or other intellectual pursuits.

Mr. Bortner was preceded in death, by his first wife, Caroline Swain Bortner after a marriage of 34 years; and his sister, Joanne Bortner Campbell.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sydney Dutton Bortner; children, Caroline Tiffany Bortner of Stevensville, James Bradley Bortner of Brush Prairie, Wash., Anne Augustine Turner of Longmont, Colo., and Christopher Franklin Bortner of York, Pa.; stepchildren, Jennifer Hawthorne of Malone, N.Y., James Hawthorne of Church Hill, Caitlin Hawthorne Bowman of Worton, and Robert Dutton Hawthorne of Chestertown; and grandchildren include, Erica Roberson, Lauren Breslin, Benjamin Bortner, Jefferson Bortner, Jordan Bortner, Randee Hawthorne, Weston Bortner, Taylor Bortner, Samantha Hawthorne, Emily Hawthorne, Margaret Turner, Jack Hawthorne, Jonanna Turner, and Bethany Turner.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kent, Chestertown.

Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery.

Instead of flowers, direct contributions to the American Cancer Society (Kent County), 92 Read's Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720; Kent County Humane Society, P.O. Box 325 Chestertown, MD 21620; and the Maryland Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, Chestertown.

Online condolences may be sent via www.fhnfuneralhome.com.