 Don Tuttle passed away at age 90. He holds a special place in the U-46 family.
Mr. Tuttle - just his name conjures up memories for many of laying back and looking at the stars. Don Tuttle was the face of astronomy for thousands of U-46 students. They came to the observatory on a field trip, often just a day out of the classroom, but they left in awe of the man who could control the stars.
Don Tuttle was the first director of the U-46 observatory when it was deeded to the school district by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1960. He served in that position for 25 years sharing his love of astronomy with our children. The planetarium, that allowed classes of students to sit and wonder at the changing sky above them, was his classroom. He was a pioneer when the field was in its infancy. Requests from across the country from the late 60’s and early 70’s wrote asking him to share his curriculum. Of course, he did.
He sought to inspire students and the community alike. During his time at the observatory he opened the building to the community for special events and provided additional time to those students interested in astronomy.
In February, he was a special guest at the 100th anniversary of the observatory. A long line waited for a chance to talk with Don and share their memories. It was a great day for the district and for this remarkable man who is a legend to many.
His legacy lives on as students continue to learn about the night in that quiet room and community is again welcomed.
|
Navigation
Home
RSS Feeds
U-46 of Facebook
Staff Resources
