James A. Bortner

Captain James A. Bortner, USN (ret.), 86, of Chestertown, MD died on June 24, 2008. Born in York, PA, he was the son of Earl Jennings Bortner and Emma Mary Shaub Bortner. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1942 and he served throughout World War II. After the war, he attended Bucknell University, receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mathematics and Physics. Recalled to active duty for the Korean Conflict, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island; and graduate schools at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey, California. His duty stations varied geographically to include Massachusetts, Florida, Guam, California, and Maryland. Capt. 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, DC. 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. Captain 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. He 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. He was preceded in death, by his first wife, Caroline Swaim 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. He was also father to Caroline Tiffany Bortner (Stevensville, Maryland), James Bradley Bortner (Brush Prairie, Washington), Anne Augustine Turner (Longmont, Colorado), and Christopher Franklin Bortner (York, Pennsylvania) and stepfather to Jennifer Hawthorne (Malone, New York), James Hawthorne (Church Hill, Maryland), Caitlin Hawthorne Bowman (Worton, Maryland), Robert Dutton Hawthorne (Chestertown, Maryland). Surviving 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, Bethany Turner, Asher Bowman, and Flynn Bowman. Services will be held on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Kent in Chestertown, MD . Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery. In lieu of flowers please direct contributions to the American Cancer Society (Kent County), Kent County Humane Society, and the Maryland Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

James A. Bortner

April 18, 1922 - June 24, 2008