Donald Bennett Shycoff

It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Bennett Shycoff, of Bowie, Maryland, announce his passing on June 27, 2023, at the age of 92. Donald was the son of Carl and Ann (Feinberg) Shycoff, husband of the late Joan Kathryn (Flanagan) Shycoff, father to and survived by Donna (John, late) Danielson, Barbara (Isabella) Shycoff, Tracy Shycoff, and Carol (Jon) Rigby, grandchildren Christine (Shawn) Spurlock, Alexandra Rigby, and Steven Rigby, and great-grandchildren William Spurlock and Camden Spurlock.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1931, Donald was pre-deceased by his sister and brother-in-law Diane and Warren Foreman, his brother Daniel Shycoff, and is also survived by his sister-in-law Bridget Shycoff. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School, graduated from Syracuse University in 1953 with a B.A. in Political Science, and completed graduate work at the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois.

Although Donald was an accomplished and distinguished official in the U.S. Department of Defense, it was his love for his family - as a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, and as an uncle and a friend to many - that defined his life. He never missed the big or small moments in his family’s life, including swim meets, school recitals, weddings, or other family celebrations. He taught his four daughters how to ride a bike and throw a ball, financed their educational pursuits, and helped them to buy their first homes. Lovingly known as “Bamps” later in life, he hosted “Friday Night Family Dinner” for any and all who could make it for several decades. Donald was generous with his time, love, and treasure, opening his home to cousins, family friends, and foreign exchange students.

As a young parent, his early family life was dominated by the family’s involvement in competitive swimming. Although he never learned to swim, he valued that his family was participating in an activity all together. Donald drove the family station wagon over 300,000 miles, shuttling his kids and others to swim practices and swim meets in the local community and all across the U.S. He eventually ended up running the Silver Spring YMCA Swim Team and later the Bulldog Swim Team of Bowie, MD, and ultimately served as Chairman of Potomac Valley Swimming. He maintained his involvement in swimming even after his own kids were grown and no longer in the sport. He was known on the pool deck as Mr. Clerk of Course and inspired many younger and novice swimmers to do their best and have a good time. Donald even used “swimpop” as his handle back in the CB radio days, and then as his email.

All that being said, professionally, Donald was an acclaimed and humble leader. He began his career as an entry level budget analyst for the Bureau of Ships in the Navy Department in 1956. He rose to Principal Deputy Comptroller of the Department of Defense, the senior career position in the DOD budget world, and even served for a time as Acting Comptroller of the Department of Defense, before his retirement in 1993. He earned several medals and awards along the way, including The Defense Logistics Agency Exceptional Civilian Service award in 1986, the Presidential Rank in 1991, and the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service award in 1993.

Donald also wrote and published a book on improving the infrastructure of the Department of Defense titled "The Businesses of Defense," which outlined organizational changes for support functions and a revised financial system for the DOD.

Donald will be buried next to his one and only true love, Joan, in Davidsonville, MD in a private ceremony. If you are so inclined, donations can be made to any charity in his name, as he was generous to all.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the Shycoff family.