Through his paternal grandmother, Donald is a direct descendant of Hendrick Sleight & his wife Catherine Winant, the daughter of Peter Winant who settled on Staten Island in the 1690’s.
Donald married his wife Margaret (Peggy Madden) on May 29, 1965 in St. Mary’s RC Church where they remained active parishioners until it closed in 2015. They raised their 5 children in the Fort Wadsworth family homestead which had been built in 1917, by Margaret’s Grandparents, Joseph P. & Margaret (Laline) Morris.
Donald retired in 1989 from the NYC Dept. of Sanitation & quickly became engrossed in his favorite hobbies of fishing & crabbing with his children & grandchildren, working in his garden, sharing it’s bounty with family, friends & neighbors; chauffeuring & watching his daughters cheerleading, tennis matches for Sea, sons bowling matches & then his granddaughters volleyball, softball & soccer games for Hill, gymnastics & his grandsons football games. He was an avid sports fan, always everyone’s #1 fan cheering loudly on the sidelines. He enjoyed watching his favorite professional team, the New York Yankees. He also loved to bake cakes, and he passed this love onto his granddaughters.
Donald was also a member of the Fort Wadsworth Pelican Athletic Club for over 50 years where each week he enjoyed watching & supplying drinks & snacks for their team as his son managed & played for their softball team. After the games, the team was always welcome to enjoy the rest of the day to swim & barbecue at “Donnie Land”. He was a proud supporter of the Jammers softball team as well, and enjoyed the laughs and shenanigans shared by all.
Donald was also a member of the National Guard, The Thomas Dongan Council Knights of Columbus 1251 & a 4th degree member of the Long Island Assembly 703 Knights of Columbus.
Donald is survived by his wife, sons Donald (Margaret Widlicka) & John. Daughters Megan (Christopher Berardi) & Mary Catherine (Marcy) (Michael Frisz). Grandchildren - Nicole & Donald Gundacker, Ashley & Amanda Frisz, John, JoEllen & Katelyn Gundacker, & step grandchildren Frank & Krystle Berardi.
Siblings - Dennis (Maureen Ferraro), Darlene (the Late Christopher Valente), Wesley A (Joyce Fells), 2 nephews - Peter Ronnie (Jr) & Wesley (Jr) ; 4 nieces - Kim Ann, Cheryl, Kristy, & Traci.
Donald is predeceased by his parents, his son Walter (Chip) in 2000 & siblings, Peter Ronald & Geraldine.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday May 1st from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Casey Funeral Home. 350 Slosson Avenue, Staten Island, NY
Funeral Service Thursday May 2nd 9:30 AM Holy Rosary Church 80 Jerome Avenue, Staten Island, NY
Committal Service St. Mary’s Cemetery 155 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
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