Donald Richard Cottingham, Sr.

Donald R. Cottingham Sr, 89, passed away on September 4, 2013 after a short illness. Born in Cicero, Illinois on July 12, 1924, his birth place was on the same street where famous gangster Al Capone lived, a man he humorously said he never met nor had any life influence upon. Don received his associate degree from J. Sterling Morton Junior college in Illinois prior to his entry into the Navy and his BS and MS degrees from Old Dominion University in 1966 and 1971 respectively. He served his nation proudly as a US Navy officer in WWII, Korea, and into the early Vietnam War years, retiring in 1965 after a distinguished military career of 23 years. Don then changed to his second and lifelong career as a beloved and accomplished teacher of Chemistry and General Sciences. Schools where he taught with great success and service to students were Norview Junior High, Norfolk Academy, and Maury High, where he was Chair of the Science Department until his retirement in 1991. A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Don was a member of the Session there for 24 years and a Deacon for eight years. In recent years Don became a member of Royster Presbyterian Church. Don’s high honors as a teacher are many, including Norfolk teacher of the year 1981, outstanding teacher of the National Academy of Sciences, and a personal recognition award from President Reagan for Outstanding Science Teacher leadership in 1985. His many awards clearly show that his highly effective classroom teaching as well as his mentoring of so many successful students for many years will long be remembered.

Don is survived by his faithful, longtime love and devoted caregiver, Martha S. Greenwood, son Donald Richard Cottingham, Jr., daughters by heart, Martha Suzanne Tice and husband Tom, Elizabeth A. Jernigan and husband Perry, sons by heart Larry J. Tice and wife Susan, Steven N. Tice and wife Debbie, Joseph L. Greenwood, III and wife Becky, grandchildren, Teri Cottingham Ramey and husband, and Charles R. Cottingham, grandchildren by heart, Jessica Duggan and husband Steve, Amber Greenwood, Charles L. Tice II, James V. Jernigan, Davis J. Versprille, Hannah M. Jernigan, Delaney E. Versprille, Brooke C. Jernigan, Wade M. Jernigan, and sister-in-law, Norma Demmin and husband Les and numerous nieces and nephews. Don is predeceased by his wife, Christine T. Cottingham.

Special thanks are given to Edward B. Cummings, his CNA, Joan Burt, and his ICU nurse, Ami, at DePaul Hospital who all took such special care of him.

A memorial service will be conducted at the Royster Presbyterian Church, Norfolk on Saturday September 14 at 11:00 AM. Online condolences are invited and may be sent to Smith and Williams Funeral Home at www.Smithandwilliamsnorfolk.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maury High School in memory of Don.