(Washington, DC) It is with the greatest respect and appreciation that the Office of Planning announces the Retirement of JOHN FONDERSMITH on June 3, 2005, after 35 years of service to the District of Columbia.
John Fondersmith began working for DC in April 1970, when he joined the staff of the DC Zoning Commission. In 1971, he moved to the Office of Planning and has held the positions of Planner, Chief of Downtown Planning, Chief of Special Projects, Chief of the Transit Development Team, Transition Coordinator, and Development Review Specialist.
Mr. Fondersmith’s contributions to the city and the Office of Planning are abundant. He has staffed the DC Commemorative Works Committee and served the Chinatown Steering Committee since its creation in 1983, devoting endless hours to the planning and improvement of Chinatown. In 2003, John received the Friendship Archway Award for Outstanding Dedication and Planning Contributions for DC's Chinatown.
Mr. Fondersmith worked on the city’s first Comprehensive Plan and has every version since its adoption. Most recently he has worked diligently on the Campus Plans for American University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University.
Mr. Fondersmith has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow workers, members of the community, and the appointed and elected officials of the District of Columbia through his dedicated, diligent, and unfailing planning efforts.
In addition to his work at the Office of Planning, he has served as a member of the National Capital Memorial Commission, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, the Washington Map Society, the American Studies Association, the L’Enfant Society, and the American Antiquarian Society.
John will be recognized by Mayor Williams at the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration on Thursday, May 26, 2005, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW. Awards Ceremony begins at 5:50 pm. Please join us in wishing Mr. Fondersmith well.
