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Donald F. Newnham

No. 19534 March 31, 1932 - May 5, 2011

Died in Altamonte Springs, FL

Interred in West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY

Donald Fred Newnham was born in Gloversville, NY, on Mar 31, 1932. Excelling in school activities and academics, his favorite subjects were mathematics, science, and French. His activities included the high school newspaper, photography and French clubs, performing arts, bowling, and baseball. As a member of the National Honor Society, he received a National Merit Scholarship and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1950. His superlative record attracted the attention of Representative Bernard W. Kearney of the 31st District, who appointed him to West Point. On Jul 5, 1950, Don entered Beast Barracks as a member of the West Point Class of 1954.

As a cadet, Don was recognized as “one of the smart guys,” and during his Yearling year he became a “Star Man” and earned the coveted academic stars on his collar identifying him as being in the top five percent of his class. He showed his leadership and concern for others by earning the designation of academic coach for his cadet company and helping company mates over the rough spots. One of them said of him, “I’m one ... who depended on his brainpower, and he never let us down.”

Don demonstrated varied interests and talents in such cadet activities as camera, chess, pistol, radio, debate, mathematics, and Howitzer, and excelled in all. In June 1954, he graduated fourth in order of general merit and ranked second academically. He was commissioned in the Army Corp of Engineers.

The day after his graduation, he married Elaine Jensen of New York with company mate 2nd LT. Donald Geiger, U.S. Army, as best man. After the wedding, their first assignment was at Alexandria, VA, followed by Ft. Benning, GA, where their son, Donald Jr., was born.

Don attended Purdue University and earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering and witnessed the birth of identical twin daughters, Deborah and Barbara. Other assignments included Ft. Baker, CA, as operations officer of the 561st Port Engineer Company; Ft. Belvoir, VA, supporting the installation of a nuclear reactor in Greenland; West Point, teaching Electrical Engineering; Vietnam, constructing power plants; West Point, as post engineer, overseeing the construction of the upper deck of Michie Stadium, renovation of Washington Hall, and construction of new barracks; Cambodia, advising the Cambodian Army; and Ft. McPherson, GA, overseeing ports construction world­wide.

While stationed at West Point, his children gained fond memories of football games, Sunday school classes taught by cadets, golf cart attendants for their parents, ice skating, gardening, helping mom with ceramics and dad with woodworking, and living with various pets. He was a talented, solid woodworker who made large furniture then replicated miniatures for his daughters. One piece holding sentimental value contains a slab of the same grey slate that is in the floor of the Washington Hall cadet dining facility.

Don retired in 1974 as a lieutenant colonel and moved to Maitland, FL where his family had established a home while he was in Cambodia. Continuing to use his engineering talents, he became the Assistant Public Works Director of Orange County FL, then for 20 years was the Public Works Director for the City of Altamonte Springs, FL during which he expanded a treatment plant into a regional wastewater treatment facility. He also envisioned and implemented Project APRICOT (A Prototype Realistic Community of Today), one of the nation's first water/reclaimed water dual distribution systems. While many credit him for APRICOT, he told the Orlando Sentinel in 1997 that the idea came from Frontinus, a public works commissioner in Rome (about 70 A.D.) who observed that the city's use of unclean water for irrigation and cleaning public places was a practical method of reclaiming water rather than wasting it. After Newnham read about Frontinus, he used the concept to launch APRICOT. City Manager Frank Martz commented, “While communities ...  struggle with water conservation and reclaimed water issues, Newnham put Altamonte Springs at the forefront 30 years ago, when he helped launch one of the nation's first dual-distribution systems for potable and reclaimed water. Mr.  Newnham was decades ahead of his time.”

Don retired from the City of Altamonte Springs in 1997 and then traveled with Elaine, visiting many countries together. All this was in spite of the gradually debilitating effects of his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Don aggressively fought and researched the illness, volunteering for new treatments, sharing lessons learned with others, and sharing information about increased quality of life benefits that were being made available as the seriousness of the illness began to be appreciated.

Don finally succumbed to his illnesses on May 5, 2011 and  was interred with full military honors in the West Point Cemetery on Jun 17, 2011. His son predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, twin daughters, grandsons Donnie and Dillon, and stepbrothers George and Fred.

Well done, thou Good and Faithful Servant.

                                                —Family and Classmates

 

 

Originally published in TAPS, SUMMER 2012

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