Donald Lee Kerr

He is survived by his son Ben, daughter-in-law Amy, his daughter Stephanie and her husband Roger, and his daughter Jennifer.

Don, also known as "The New England Gardener", from his book of the same title, retired in 1991 from the Old Saybrook Public School System and continued to substitute teach into his eighties. Don was a graduate of Wesleyan University, and received his Doctorate from Brown.

As a lover of the arts, Don was very involved in many CT Theater companies, acted in and directed many local plays, and sang in many local choral groups. Beyond his passion for the theater, he had a great interest in history, travel and ecology. He traveled the world participating in numerous archaeological digs and ecological preservation programs.

Don had a very unique and eclectic life, he had been a smokejumper in Montana, Gardening Editor for the New London Day, a teacher to countless Old Saybrook students, a conductor on the Valley Railroad Steam Train, and a deckhand on the River Boat "Polly Ann". He also served in the United States Navy as a sub-mariner in World War II. He was one-of-a-kind, a true character. His unique ways and manner will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at Swan Funeral Home in Old Saybrook, on Saturday, October 8th between 1-3 pm with a short military honor service immediately following at 3pm.