In Memory of Donald Pfanz
A Tribute to a Dedicated Author, Historian
Father of the Modern Battlefield Preservation Movement
It is with deep sadness that CVBT acknowledges the passing of Don Pfanz, devoted CVBT member, respected author, historian, and steadfast preservationist. Don passed away from Glioblastoma brain cancer on September 2nd, at age 67. His commitment to history and preservation, as well as his kindness and easy smile left a lasting impression all who knew him, and the preservation community in general. In remembering Don, former colleague, and fellow NPS historian Frank O’Reilly stated, “his legacy is on a hundred fields where visitors can walk hallowed ground, touch history, and be touched by history.” In 1987, while working as a historian at Petersburg National Battlefield, Don wrote a letter to several colleagues expressing concern over the destruction of battlefield lands in Chantilly, located in northern Virginia. Don’s letter called for the creation of an organization “to preserve battlefield land by direct purchase”—a call that led to the creation of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites and the start of the modern Civil War battlefield preservation movement. Born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Don was a graduate of the College of William and Mary. In his 32-year career with the National Park Service, he worked at three parks: Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Petersburg National Battlefield, and Fort Sumter National Monument. He retired in 2013. In 2021, CVBT awarded Don the Ralph A. Happel Preservation Award for his commitment to Civil War history, and his early work in the creation of the modern preservation movement. |
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