Donna D. Cianciulli

Donna D. Cianciulli, beloved wife, mother, teacher, mentor and friend, passed away February 5, 2021 of complications from cancer. Her courageous battle lasted seven years, yet was filled with positive thoughts and actions – and always with a never-ending smile and encouragement to others.

Donna was born June 6, 1944 to Sophie and Eugene Gagen in Southold, Long Island, N.Y. Growing up on a farm gave Donna an instant love for all animals and an appreciation for life's simple things. She built relationships with the workers on the farm which primed her for her eventual life's work as a Spanish teacher. During middle school, Donna and her sisters Joyce (Horgan) and Sheila (Blakely) moved to Dover, DE. After graduating high school, Donna went on to attend Georgian Court University and Rutgers University graduating with degrees in Spanish.

In 1966, Donna began her long and successful teaching career at Raritan High School in Hazlet, N.J. It was there that she met Bob, her husband of nearly 50 years. In 1979, Bob and Donna moved to Miami, FL where their two sons Michael and Matthew were born. In 1988, the family spent a year in Woodstown, N.J. before moving to their present home in Flagler Beach, FL where they have lived for the past 32 years.

Donna continued her teaching career at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Indian Trails Elementary and Father Lopez High School until she retired in 2006. Donna was heavily involved with many sporting activities because of her sons, but also because her personal love of sports and fitness. She was a fixture at soccer, track and cross-country events, but her most passionate activity was giving back to the local surfing community. Donna continued her involvement in the Flagler/Volusia surf scene even after her sons moved away and volunteered at nearly every surfing event held in Flagler Beach over the past two decades.

Being so involved in the community, Donna naturally developed relationships with everyone she interacted with. She served as a mentor and mother for those less fortunate in the community and those that had lost loved ones. She always opened her home to those in need and she spent decades as a sponsor and mentor to those impacted by alcoholism and substance abuse disorders.

Donna also enjoyed domestic and international travel. She visited every state (except Alaska) multiple times and traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean and Central and South America. She had a love for all cultures and languages and enjoyed every place she visited. Even though her second language was Spanish, Donna's passion for linguistics allowed her to communicate in a variety of different languages and make any stranger feel welcome by sharing words in their local tongue. Additionally, every one of her former students – no matter their age – could expect to be spoken to in Spanish during any given encounter with Donna.

Donna will be missed greatly by her family – her husband Bob, sons Matthew and Michael and her daughter-in-law Becca (Peng) – as well as countless friends and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, Donna requested that donations in her name be made to the Center for Inherited Blood Disorders (CIBD) 2670 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, California 92705. Arrangements are being made by Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, 511 Old Kings Road, Flagler Beach. Visitation hours will be 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 9th, with a burial service at 10:00am Wednesday, February 10th, at the same location.