Donald Sherman Mooney

Donald “Don” Sherman Mooney passed away on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 84. Don was born at Denver’s Mercy Hospital on October 29, 1936, the youngest of three boys. His parents were Frank Wilson Mooney and Marian Candace Mooney (maiden name Pearse). His father worked for General Motors Corp., which took the family to Indianapolis and Detroit before moving back to Denver when Don was 10 years old, where he resided for the rest of his life. He attended Park Hill Elementary and Smiley Junior High, graduating from East High School in 1954. Don went to college at the University of Colorado in Boulder for one year where he pledged Phi Delta Theta, after which he volunteered in the Army for the next two years serving in Korea as a radio operator. He was honorably discharged in 1957, and finished his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Denver. Don married Carol Ann Peterson on June 30, 1962 at St. Thomas cathedral in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, where Don had served as an altar boy. Throughout his long and varied career which included working for JI Case, Coors and Bank Western, Don’s affable nature fostered lasting relationships with his co-workers and clients. At the end of his working years, he proudly served on the team that opened Shanahan’s restaurant. Don also served on the East High School reunion committee until his passing, and these lifelong friendships were very important to him. Don was active throughout his life, enjoying tennis, racquetball, basketball and particularly golf at Valley Country Club. He was an incredibly devoted father and grandfather (“Papa”), and often said his greatest joy came from spending time with his family. Don is survived by his former wife Carol, his daughters, Barbara Mooney Gallagher and Nancy Candace Larned; his son-in-law Mike Larned; his grandchildren and their spouses, including Charlie and Myha Gallagher, Mary and Ford St. John, Michael Gallagher, Ben Larned, Danny Gallagher, and Allison Larned; his brother, Frank Steven “Steve” Mooney and his wife Gayle Mooney and their children and grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Thomas Arthur Mooney.

Monetary Donations in Memory of Donald Mooney can be made to Step Denver, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give men with nowhere else to turn the opportunity to overcome addiction through sobriety, work, accountability, and community. Handwritten checks should be made out to Step Denver with the memo “In Memory of Donald Mooney” and mailed to 2029 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205. Online donations can be made here with Donald Mooney added to the section "My gift is in memory of”: https://stepdenver.org/ways-to-give/donate-now//.

Don will be fondly remembered with a Dewar’s in hand, a joke ready to share, and a smile on his face.