College fund for Pottorff daughters established
Americans should care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan, said President Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address
That’s how many people feel about the two daughters of Tony Pottorff, the Columbus East High School social studies teacher who fought a long battle against cancer until his death on Dec. 18.
A college fund has been established in the Columbus East Bookstore on behalf of Amanda Pottorff, a 20-year-old University of Notre Dame sophomore majoring in American studies and economics.
The fund will also benefit Delaney Pottorff, who is currently a sophomore at Columbus North High School.
Beloved educator dies after lengthy battle with cancer
A Bartholomew County educator who earned widespread admiration for almost 20 years has succumbed after a three-year battle with cancer.
Columbus East High School social studies teacher Tony Pottorff, 49, died of complications resulting from advanced breast cancer at about 5:30 p.m. Friday in his home, according to a family friend. Family members were at his side, the friend said.
After receiving the news, Columbus East Social Studies department chairman Greg Lewis spoke with sadness and emotion in his voice.
“This is a giant that we have lost on so many levels,” Lewis said.
Community mourns much-loved East teacher Tony Pottorff
His wife, Margie, posted this on social media on Friday night:
“At 5:30 pm today I lost the greatest love that I’ll ever know on this side of heaven. Jesus took my sweet loving husband to be with him. My forever and always love.”
Pottorff had been a teacher for more than 20 years, and his students and friends wore pink T-shirts every Tuesday with the message “Tony’s fight is my fight.” That tradition started at East in 2017 has continued even during home-based eLearning.
For more on this story, see Sunday’s Republic.