Donald Fullerton Emmett

Chesapeake, VA

January 23, 1931 – May 14, 2022

Donald Fullerton Emmett was born and raised in Massachusetts. He was the oldest son of Elmer Roscoe “Ross” Emmett and Marion Fullerton Emmett. He lived in Saugus, MA until his last year of high school, when he attended Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine. Don then attended Keene Teacher’s College in New Hampshire (now Keene State College), where he met his future wife, Marion Elizabeth “Bette” Baston over a chemistry textbook. While at Keene, he was asked to introduce Robert Frost at a student assembly and even drove him back to the train station. He graduated from Keene State with the option of being drafted or signing up for one of the services. He chose to sign up for the Navy and went to Newport, Rhode Island for Officer Candidate School and then to Navy Dive School in Bayon, New Jersey, graduating first in his class of divers in August 1954. During the next eight years, he spent time in Boston, Norfolk, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, California (Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterey) and then back to Norfolk in 1961. One of the Navy memories he often spoke of was his service as Lieutenant aboard a destroyer that escorted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight Eisenhower during the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959. He left the Navy in September 1962.

In California, Don had become a Christian. When he and Bette moved to Norfolk in 1961, they attended Tabernacle (Tab) Church of Norfolk, where they learned of Christian education and Tab’s newly started Norfolk Christian Schools. Knowing that Don was considering whether to re-enlist, John Dunlap, Tab Church’s pastor, asked him if he would be willing to write a blank check to God and “come join us in teaching high school math and science?” Don said yes, and began teaching math, science, shop, drafting and photography. The first graduating high school class at Norfolk Christian was in 1963, at the end of his first year of teaching. Former students loved interactions with “Mr. E” in the classroom or “Daddy Don” on Senior Trips and sailing classes. They also loved hearing of his Navy days as a hard hat diver and young Naval officer or watching “Victory at Sea” movies. Many former physics students still remember to this day an assignment on the physics of a rain drop.

Don also continued his own education. He held a Cornell Shell Merit Fellowship in physics at Cornell University one summer in the mid-1960s. He then sought an oceanography degree at Old Dominion University, but when that program was ended, he completed enough educational administration courses at ODU to earn his Master of Science degree. At NCHS, he continued to serve as a math and science teacher for over 30 years, including one year as principal and several years serving on the administration team and as a fundraiser for the National Institute of Learning Development (NILD).

Don was an adult Sunday school teacher at Tabernacle (Tab) Church of Norfolk for many years and also served on the boards of Tab Church, the Sunergos Retirement Fund (NCS), NILD and the Dunlap-Garrick Christian Community Foundation.

In 1997 Donna and Jon were living in Grand Forks, North Dakota when the Red River experienced a once in a lifetime flood.  90% of the city went under water – including a small Christian School where Donna worked part-time.  A few weeks before classes were to begin, the school had no middle school math / science teacher.  The principal inquired whether Don would be interested in coming to North Dakota for a year to teach.  He said “Yes” and in a matter of days he and Bette were on their way to live and teach in North Dakota for a year.  At the end of that year, Don commented to Bette, “I don’t fish, I don’t play golf, I’m going back to teaching!”  He was offered several places to teach and selected Bryant & Stratton College where he taught various levels of math, statistics, and natural science for 12 years – retiring a second time at age 80. At Bryant and Stratton, one of his favorite classes was teaching math to students who were studying for the armed services’ entrance tests.

Don accompanied his son, Ross, on a research trip to Duke University in the mid-1990s. Ross’ goal was to read the archived letters exchanged between two economists. Don’s eyes light up when he saw next to the folder for one of the economists Ross wanted to look at a different folder titled “Henry Kissinger.” Apparently, the economist (an early game theorist) had a summer home close to Kissinger’s place in New England, and the file of their correspondence continued a discussion started in Vermont. Soon Don was right back in thinking about nuclear weapon strategies. The trip was a success! (and, yes, there was ice cream!).

One of Don’s favorite activities was photography.  While Donna was in middle school, Don built a dark room in the garage.  Donna first learned to shoot pictures on his Nikon F2 on early morning weekend walks through downtown Norfolk.  Together they would develop the film and print the pictures in the home darkroom.  Don’s love of photography has passed on to his grandsons, Jonathan, Luke and Brent, and many of his high school teachers.  Several former students have shared how Don’s passion and training in photography prepared them and influenced their career directions.

Don is survived by his wife Bette (née Baston); as well as his children Ross Emmett (Kim Birchall) and Donna Emmett Hildebrand (Jon Hildebrand); grandchildren Lydia Emmett, David Emmett, Thomas Emmett, Jonathan Hildebrand, Luke Hildebrand and Brent Hildebrand; and great-grandchildren Sebastian Davidson, Benjamin Emmett, Anneliese Priebe, Isaac Emmett, Emily Emmett, and Ethan Priebe.

A celebration of his homegoing will occur on July 11, 2022 at 6 PM at Centerpoint Community Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. The service will be live streamed on the church’s Facebook page and YouTube channel for those that cannot attend in person.

A private burial will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Farmington, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Young Life of Chesapeake, The Gideons International or Norfolk Christian Schools.

Condolences may be offered to the family by email: Ross (rossemmett@gmail.com) and Donna (donnahildebrand@gmail.com).