Donald John Bosseler

Born in Wethersfield, upstate New York on January 24, 1936, to George and Victorine (Neamon) Bosseler, Donald lived a remarkable life. As a child, he later moved to nearby Batavia, New York where he became a star high school athlete. He excelled at baseball, basketball and of course football, his love and passion.

Highly recruited in all three sports, Don eventually accepted a football scholarship to the University of Miami. As a star fullback who started all four years at UM from 1953-1956, he gained 1642 rushing yards, placing him at the top of the UM record books at that time.

Don led the Hurricanes in rushing both in 1955 and 1956. Named First Team All-American fullback by the Associated Press in his senior year after rushing for 723 yards, he helped Miami place 6th nationally (the Hurricanes’ highest ranking ever at that time). His accolades include being named the UM Team Captain, voted Outstanding College Football Player in the State of Florida, Senior Bowl MVP and a top player in the previously played College All-Star Game vs the NFL Champion. In 1990 Don was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1999, Bosseler received the highest Hurricane accolade when he was inducted into the Orange Bowl’s Ring of Honor along with other UM greats, Ottis Anderson, Bernie Kosar, and Burgess Owens. Don is only one out of 27 who have received this honor. Throughout his college career, Don dedicated his off time serving our country in the US Army Reservists based out of Fort Knox, KY and earned the rank of First Lieutenant.

As a first-round pick by the Washington Redskins in 1957 (ninth overall, and just after Jim Brown), he became a force to be reckoned with. Nicknamed the “Bull” because of the way he ran through his opponents, he played for the Washington Redskins from 1957-1964. He rushed for 3,112 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. Following his 1959 NFL season, he was named to the Pro Bowl. When he retired in 1964, he became Washington’s all-time leading rusher and is still one of only 11 players to have over 3,000 career rushing yards with the team. He was named one of Washington’s 80 Greatest Players as part of the team’s 80th anniversary celebration in 2012. His additional accolades include being a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, the Batavia High School Hall of Fame, and being named the Genesee County, NY Athlete of the Century.

After his impressive football career, Don became a vice-president at Prudential Bache where he had a long and successful career as a financial advisor.

A true gentleman, he always went out of his way to open doors and help anyone. His kindness and concern touched everyone he met.

At the University of Miami, he met Marcia Lee Bott and immediately fell in love. Don was swept off his feet by Marcia’s beauty and charm. They married on February 13, 1962, and moved to Washington DC while Don played for the Redskins. In 1964, Miami, their “hometown,” became their permanent residence. In 1963 their daughter Loni Lee was born, their son, Gregory John in 1968, and daughter, Catharine Dana in 1972.

He was a living example of kindness, empathy, respect for others and, most importantly, love. His family always came first. Humility and strength, that rare combination, truly describes this amazing man. He never placed his success on the field and career on a pedestal; his family took that honor. Don defined resiliency and tenderness. He showed both the public and his family what an exceptional human being truly is. He lived by example.

Aside from all the accolades and awards bestowed upon Don, his greatest accomplishments are his titles of son, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His legacy will live on forever.

He is survived by his wife, Marcia Lee, daughter Loni Lee (Michael), Gregory John (Summer), and Catharine Dana (Rafael) and grandchildren Amanda Leigh (Daniel), Christopher Edward (Rachel), Casen John, Emery Mae, Cooper Riley, Catarina (William), Cristina, and Claudia, and his great-grandson, Theodore.

He will be in our hearts forever. We love you. We will miss you. You are our MVP.

“His hands are on Heaven’s Gate”- Marcia Lee

The Bosseler Family would like to thank the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame for their unwavering support.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church, 7270 SW 120 Street, Pinecrest, Florida, 33156 on Tuesday, November 19 at 11:30 a.m. A reception will be held at the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. later that same day.

In lieu of flowers, the Bosseler family kindly requests that donations be made in Don’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association:

https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=928991