Donald J. Cameron Jr. of Saugus, formerly of Lynn and Salem, died November 20, 2019 at the age of 79, after an illness of several months. He was the loving husband of Nina (Fiumara) Cameron and the late Judith (Williams) Cameron.
He was born in Lynn in 1940, the son of the late Donald J. Cameron Sr. and Elinor (Dodge). He was a 1958 graduate of Lynn Trade High School, and also studied at Northeastern University. He was employed for many years as a mechanical engineer at Osram-Sylvania in Danvers and Ipswich, where he developed several patented processes. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army reserves.
He is survived by his son Donald and partner Wendy Suzuki of Kapolei, Hawaii; three daughters, Sharon Cameron and husband Robert Curtin of Peabody; Cindy Cameron and partner Scott Scholtes of Danvers; and Dawn Marie DeVaux and husband Larry DeVaux of Burlington; and grandchildren Hayley and Theodore Curtin; Jack Malionek; and Hope and Mitchell DeVaux.
Donnie is also survived by five brothers, Henry “Hank” Cameron and wife Joanna, Ralph Cameron and wife Rita, Carl Cameron and wife Janelle, David Cameron, and Wes Miller; and three sisters, Muriel Sakellson and husband Bill, Elinor “Sis” Holmes, and Doris Copponi: his brothers- and sisters-in laws, Donna Bruner and husband Thomas, Richard Williams and wife Emily, Dolores Galvin and husband Robert, the late Peter J. Fiumara, Honey and late husband Dr. Lawrence DiBona, Rosemarie Fiumara, and Joseph Fiumara and late wife Angela. His many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, also survive him.
Family was the most important facet of Donnie’s life, and he made everyone feel like they were secretly his favorite person. A quiet presence in the company of strangers and acquaintances, he came alive in the company of his family and close friends, when his love of life and lively wit shone.
Donnie was a lifelong athlete, a high school baseball player and a fixture along with his brothers on the fastpitch softball fields of the North Shore well into his fifties. He was also a longtime member of the Wednesday GE Golf League at Gannon Golf Course in Lynn, and he spent many winter weekends with family and friends skiing his favorite hills, Wildcat, Attitash, and Cranmore. He was a passionate fan of Boston sports teams and most especially his childhood hero, Ted Williams, as well as quarterback Doug Flutie.
Donnie was a man of many interests. He was a voracious reader who regularly completed multiple books in a single week; he was especially interested in history and in imparting what he learned to others. He also enjoyed traveling, especially to Aruba and Scotland. He loved “oldies,” Irish music, and Scottish bagpipes, and above all he enjoyed spending time at the beach with Nina and with his devoted Bichon Frisě, Winnie.
Visiting hours will be held in the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home 157 Maple Street, Lynn on Tuesday, November 26 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Wednesday, November 27, at 10:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated at 11:00 AM in St. Pius V Church, 215 Maple St., Lynn. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery followed by another burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Lynn.
The Cameron family is grateful to the team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute for the wonderful care that gave them the gift of these past 10 months. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
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