Nancy Fitts Donaldson

Nancy Fitts Donaldson, a teacher, principal and beloved mentor to younger educators in the Philadelphia area died  September 26, a week shy of her 94 ^th birthday at White Horse Village, a half mile from her childhood home in Gradyville, PA.  As one friend and colleague said about her life, "She went from being a wonderful, trusted school leader to being a wonderful, trusted support for school leaders."

Born Anna Mary Fitts in 1925, she changed her name to Nancy as a teenager and was known as Fittsy at Swarthmore College where she graduated in 1946.  Ms. Donaldson married her first husband, Peter B. Wilkinson and, after stops in Texas, Atlanta and Pittsburgh, settled in Paoli where they raised their three children and she became an active member of Willistown Friends Meeting.  They divorced in 1978.

When her children went to school, so did she. Ms. Donaldson earned her teaching degree at West Chester State University and began her career in a fourth grade classroom at the now closed Paoli Pike Elementary School in West Chester.  She continued her teaching at Wilmington Friends School until 1971 when she became head of Lansdowne Friends School.  During her years there and then as lower school principal at Abington Friends School, she became active in Quaker education circles.  She ended her formal career as principal of The Shipley School's lower school and went on to supervise student teachers for Swarthmore College.

Throughout her career, Donaldson served on many boards including Friends Central and Media-Providence Friends School. She was the first clerk for the board of Stratford Friends School, which serves children with learning differences. She tutored children in Chester and supported the Chester Children's Choir.  For several years she was the secretary of the White Horse Village residents association.

In 1984, Donaldson married the love of her life, Orlin Donaldson, a retired photographer from Bethlehem Steel.  Forever thrifty, they rented a tiny, ramshackle, uninhabitable house in Ridley Creek State Park for a nominal amount in return for meticulously rehabilitating it. He leveled the floors, she planted banks of daffodils and daylilies.  They traveled extensively and particularly loved "dropping in on friends" in Maine and Nova Scotia.

In her later years after Orlin died, she was sustained by her longstanding book group, her family and by her many loyal friends.

She is survived by her three children, Signe Wilkinson, Gregg Wilkinson and Geoff Wilkinson, step-children Storm Snaith and Kyle Donaldson, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  Contributions in her memory may be sent to any of the schools where she taught or the Chester Children's Choir https://www.swarthmore.edu/chester-childrens-chorus .

Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home
15 E. Fourth St.
Media, PA 19063
www.haganfuneralhome.com