Donald Lewis Proudman

Donald ‘Don’ Lewis Proudman, formerly of Canton, Easton, Taunton and Dennisport, MA, passed away on October 12, 2022. He was 86 years old. He was born in Boston on October 9, 1936 to the late William and Thelma (Newell) Proudman.

In 1959, he married Barbara Quinn of Canton, MA. Together they raised three children: David, Cheryl and James in Easton, MA.

Don served in the Navy Reserves for 8 years. He did a tour of active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis from (1961-1962). He served on the U.S.S. Miller and was a Morse code radio operator.

Don owned and operated Automatic Control Systems and Proudman Systems, industrial laundry textile businesses that he started around 1973 until his retirement in 2004. He was an accomplished engineer and electrician and was awarded a few U.S. patents. He was a member and board member of TRSA (Textile Rental Service Association).

He and his wife retired to Dennisport on Cape Cod, MA. They both enjoyed many winters together in Bermuda and Florida. They had fun taking trips with their friends.

Don loved the game of golf. He enjoyed playing at The Highlands and the Pines golf courses in Dennis, MA. He played in the Early Bird golf league. He was also a member of the Retired Men’s Club of Cape Cod for golf and candle pin bowling. He and his wife were members of The Sons of Erin Cape Cod. He was a tenor in The Canton Bay Statemen’s Barbershop Chorus, played on a men’s softball league and coached Little League in Easton, MA.

Every summer, he enjoyed the family tradition (fondly known as ‘The White Whale Challenge’) of playing mini golf with his children and grand-children at Putter’s Paradise.

Don's love for photography spanned the years. He was photographer for his high school yearbook in Canton, Ma, and worked for Gerzon Studios as a side line taking family photos and working weddings. Most of our family photos were taken by my father, so he was not present in a lot of them until he got a new Polaroid one year with a snap shot timer on it. He had so many talents and interests it's hard to cover them all.

Don is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children, David Proudman (wife Jennifer) of Crown Point, IN, Cheryl Mitchell (husband Stephen) of Cumberland, RI, and James Proudman of Henderson, NV; grand-children, Trevor Cross (fiancé Emily Armstrong) of Whitman, MA, Jacob Cross of Pawtucket, RI, Connor Proudman, Alexis Proudman and Harris Proudman all of Crown Point, IN; great-granddaughter, Korra Cross of Whitman, MA; and brother, John Proudman (partner Zoe Sollenberger) of Fort Valley, VA.

He is pre-deceased by his brothers William Proudman, Jr. and Phillip Proudman.

He leaves his brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. Don will be dearly missed. He would like to be remembered by all his friends at Jake Rooney’s, Oliver’s, and the Royal II on Cape Cod.

The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to One Tree Planted (onetreeplanted.org) or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org).

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 1:00 – 4:00pm at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, MA. Burial will be held on Monday, October 24, 2022. Meet promptly at 11:30am at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home. Processional at 12:00pm for the 12:30pm service at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne, MA