Donald Soroka, age 91 passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Don was born in Middletown, NJ, in 1932. Early in his life his family moved often, before ending up in El Cerrito, CA, where he attended high school until 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1953. He later attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He worked at Lockhead Martin, in their Space Systems Division for over 26 years, retiring in 1992.
Don enjoyed an active life. He was an avid runner who competed in marathons across the country. Later in his life he focused on swimming and was a member of the Rolling Hills Mud Sharks Swim Team. He also enjoyed golf, bike riding, and hiking the California coast and Sierra Nevada Mountains.
He loved music and was for many years a singer in the Novato Music Association Chorus. He had a lovely baritone singing voice and was inspired by the great crooners - Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Perry Como. He also was a big fan of the opera tenor Enrico Caruso.
Don was a film buff and loved watching romance musicals especially those from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) stable of movies from the 1930’s and 40’s.
Don was predeceased by his parents Harriet and Nicholas; two brothers, Stanley, and Nicholas; two sisters, Shirley, and Marilyn; and infant son Mark Patrick.
He is survived by his wife, Marty Barry, of Novato, CA; his sons Donald, Jr., of Tustin, CA, Sean, of Las Vegas, NV; and daughter Tracy Silvers, of Tehachapi, CA.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Don’s favorite organizations: the Novato Music Association Chorus https://novatomusicassociationchorus.org or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org.
