Donald A. Schwab

Donald A. “Don” Schwab, 88, of East Hartford, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 19, 2022. He is now reunited with his beloved wife of 32 years, Patricia (Driscoll) Gilnack Schwab, who predeceased him earlier this month. Born in Fitchburg, MA on October 22, 1934, he was the son of the late Charles Schwab and Norma (Calvi) Mattala. Don graduated from Athol High School in Athol, MA, where he was a star basketball player and later attended Assumption College in Worcester, MA. He was an entrepreneur who owned various businesses, including Spencer Seafood in Spencer, MA and, for the last 33 years, City Check Cashing in East Hartford, Manchester, Hartford, New Britain and Enfield. Don was an avid fisherman and enjoyed cooking for the family, visiting the area casinos, traveling with his wife and playing cards, especially pinochle. He loved the game of football, in particular the New England Patriots.

Don is survived by his two children, David Schwab and wife Rose and their two daughters (Marie and Sara) and Jeanne Marie Berry and husband Ed; his two step-sons, Billy Gilnack and wife Teri and their three children (William, Samantha and Taylor) and Christopher Gilnack and wife Adrienne and their two sons (Christian and Jonathan); his brother Charles “Chuck” Schwab; sister-in-law, Kerry Driscoll and husband Daniel Bailey and several nieces, nephews, former customers and friends.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, (December 28) at 9 a.m. from the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 370 May Street, East Hartford. Burial will follow in Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Don’s family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday (December 27) from 3:30-6 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations in Don’s name please be made to the East Hartford Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 380401, East Hartford, CT 06138-0401. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.