Donald Lee Feldman

Arriving in the August swelter of 1963, Donald Lee Feldman moved his soon-to-be family of seven from the suburbs of New York to start a new life in Las Vegas, Nevada. Planning to join his cousin, Burton Greenspan in his start-up construction company, Don was 31 years old, his wife, Fay, only 29. With an unusual slow-down in the once- booming construction business, Don soon fell back on his true trade, the family business of baking, where he’d learning the craft from his father and grandfather. Born in 1932 to Anna and Louis Feldman, Don and his sister, Elaine lived right down the street from their family bake shop. Meeting Fay Goodman at a friend’s sweet-sixteen birthday party, Don and Fay soon married and began their 1950s life in one of the “Levittowns” popping up in the East. Don loved being a baker, but his adventurous spirit brought him out West guiding him into opening two bakeries in the 1970s and 1980s: Charleston Plaza Bake Shop and later, Rancho Bakery, each a favorite amongst not only Las Vegas’ Jewish population but also many connoisseurs of his genuine New York-style delicacies. Don also worked at various private and casino bakeries here in Las Vegas, most notably the “old” MGM, where he survived the 1980 fire by sheltering in a walk-in refrigerator for two hours, thinking he might perish and writing his “last words” on a cake doily. Don was the subject of many a newspaper and television feature over the past 35 year in which he enjoyed describing his harrowing escape. Additionally, Don enjoyed his charter membership in the Las Vegas chapter of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias where he served as Chancellor Commander for a number of years. Passing away this past Saturday, October 10th, surrounded by his family, Donald is survived by his wife of 63 years, Fay, and his five children: Nancy (Paul Maheras, Molly and Kate); Lynn (David Weiss and Zachary); Bonni (Dave Selleck, Rachel Murch [Patrick], Sarah, and Emily); Lillian Guthrie (Michelle [Joe Perry] and Heather); and Michael Feldman (Avi and Cara); as well as his great-grandchildren: Mallory, Elliott and Zoey. Services will take place at King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery on Tuesday, October 13, at 2 PM.