The Atlantic Cape Community College recently announced the passing of Brigadier General Dr. William A. Orth, who served as the college’s president from August 1987 to August 1993. Gen. Orth died June 24, 2024, at the age of 92. His death preceeded the passing of former college President Dr. Peter Mora on June 30.
His philosophy was “Quality for the Student,” making the college accessible to a wide variety of audiences while keeping tuition stable, Atlantic Cape said on its Facebook page. Orth provided the foundation for the college to move into the era of computer technology by selecting equipment that would enable students to “talk” to their professors by computer and access college information through an automatic teller-like kiosk.
Obituary
Brig. Gen. William Albert Orth, 92, of Hummelstown and formerly of Coatesville PA, peacefully passed away on June 24, 2024 surrounded by love and family in his home.
He was born September 28, 1931 in Coatesville, PA, the son of the late William Frederick Orth and Mary Olive (Wilson) Orth.
Brigadier General William A. Orth was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in June 1954, after graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. He then attended undergraduate pilot training at Bartow Air Base, FL and Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.
General Orth was assigned as a pilot with the 324th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Westover Air Force Base, MA, until December 1956, when he was assigned to the 512th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Royal Air Force Station, Bentwaters, England. Later, he was assigned as a pilot at Sembach Air Base, Germany, until May 1959 when he was assigned as an intelligence officer to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he remained until December 1959.
From 1960 to May 1961, he earned his master of science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University, Lafayette, IN and subsequently was an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Mechanics at the Air Force Academy.
In 1963, he was assigned as a T-33 and T-37 instructor pilot and assistant operations officer at Vance Air Force Base, OK. He attended the Aerospace Safety Course at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles until December 1964 before becoming chief of wing safety at Vance.
In 1965, General Orth left Vance Air Force Base to attend Brown University. Upon completion of his doctorate, he was assigned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics until January 1970.
Through June of 1970, General Orth was a A-37 pilot at England Air Force Base, LA. Then he was assigned as chief of wing safety with the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam. He took command of the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Bien Hoa in 1970 and flew more than 250 combat sorties in the A-37 aircraft. Later he became a senior duty officer for 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, until July 1971.
Following his Vietnam tour, General Orth became assistant director of accounting and finance for the Strategic Air Command’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, at Offutt Air Force Base, NE, and in 1972 was assigned as director of engineering and construction under the deputy chief of staff of civil engineering at Offutt.
He became assistant deputy chief of staff for civil engineering at Headquarter Strategic Air Command, in 1973. In August 1974, he was assigned as permanent professor and head, Department of Physics, Air Force Academy. Brigadier General Orth became dean of faculty, Air Force Academy on September 1, 1978 and subsequently retired from active service in 1983.
General Orth’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
From 1983-1985 William Orth was President at Trident Technology College, SC, and then relocated and became the President of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, located in OK through 1985-1987. From 1987-1993, William Orth served as President at Atlantic Community College, New Jersey, U.S.
William is survived by his; wife, Doris Arlene (Myers) Orth; daughter, Victoria Lynn Kuestersteffen of Fort Pierce, FL, and daughter, Sandra Lee Orth of Hershey, PA.
Services and interment with military honors will be held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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