Former East Haddam Resident and BOE Member Donald Coltart Passes Away

Donald Johnson Coltart passed away unexpectedly at Maine Medical Center in Portland, on January 23, 2012. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 6, 1941 to George Lester Coltart and Dorothy Bacon Johnson Coltart. Even though born in Chicago, Don's family roots go back to 1620 in Massachusetts, and the 1630s in Maine. He was a direct descendant of the Mayflower pilgrims John Alden, James Chilton, and of John Winslow, whose brother was Edward Winslow. Don was also a 27th generation great-grandson of William the Conqueror, and through the royal houses of England, France, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, and Denmark had many royal ancestors---some good and some bad. Needless to say, his genealogy is what some people might see as fascinating reading!

Don graduated from Purdue University with a B. S. in Mechanical Engineering, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Master’s degree in Management.  He worked for various companies during his career, including Kimberly-Clark Corporation in Neenah, Wisconsin and Conway, Arkansas, as well as other companies in Connecticut, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Maine as an engineer and as a manager.  Don's work at times took him throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Don was a very devoted family man, a wonderful husband and father, and a wonderful friend. He loved the Maine coast, and he and his wife Jeanie would often go out to the coastal areas during summers, where Don would sometimes fly his kite. Tourists used to take photos of Don flying his kite near the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, or at Popham Beach during annual family picnics there.  Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was one of Don's most favorite places to visit, and he and Jeanie would often go there during sunny summer days to relax and enjoy the scenery, as well as to other favorite spots along the Maine coast. Don also loved taking cruise boat rides on the ocean to see the seals and whales.  Some of Don's ancestors in Maine and Massachusetts were sea captains, so he likely inherited his love of the sea from them.

He was a registered ham radio operator and very much enjoyed using his ham radio. In past, he did some volunteer work with the American Red Cross as a ham radio operator during disasters. In his earlier years, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Don was also an excellent alpine skier. He taught his wife Jeanie how to ski. He at one point wanted to join the ski patrol at a nearby ski area near their home in Connecticut, but graduate school and a growing family derailed that plan. Both he and Jeanie were members of the Danbury (Connecticut) Ski Club. 

While living in East Haddam, Connecticut, both Don and Jeanie were members of the East Haddam Historical Society and Don also served as a member of the East Haddam Board of Education. He was also an active member of the Lions Club in Pennsylvania and in Monmouth, Maine.   

Don and his wife Jeanie were soul mates, who shared many deep discussions about politics, economics, scientific topics, and other issues of the day. They used to enjoy watching documentaries and movies on television together, getting together with family and friends, and watching their grandchildren grow up. Don is very greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His sudden and unexpected departure from us all was much too soon.  

Don was in very good hands at Maine Medical Center in Portland, in the care of wonderful doctors and nurses and other staff there. Thank you to all those people, who did their best in trying to save him after his heart and brain surgeries. The family also thanks the wonderful medical staff at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, and the staff of St. Marguerite D'youville Pavilion in Lewiston.  

Don is survived by his wife Jean Sullivan Coltart of Monmouth, Maine; their daughter and two sons and daughter-in-law: Erin Towns of Fayette, Maine; Austin and his wife Michelle of Mechanic Falls, Maine; and Peter of Augusta, Maine.  In addition, he is also survived by three grandchildren: Gavin Towns, Lillian Coltart, and Marabella Coltart, as well as his former son-in-law Thomas Towns of Wayne, his brother and sister-in-law Philip and Meribeth Coltart of Backus, Minnesota, a nephew and two nieces, and many cousins, as well as many close friends.

Instead of a funeral service, a memorial gathering of family and friends in Don's memory will be held next summer on July 8, 2012 at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, starting at 10 a.m., with refreshments to follow after the service.