Fr. Donald Alexis Primi

Donald Alexis Primi passed away on the 26th of August, 2021, at Cape Canaveral Hospital at the age of 74, after a three-week battle with COVID-19. He will forever be remembered by his son Daniel Primi, his two brothers Chris Primi and John Primi, nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless other close friends and family he knew in his very full life.

Don was born in Manhasset, Long Island, NY, in 1947, the second child of John and Eileen Primi. He always had a love and natural talent for drawing and art. He started a successful advertising company, Don Primi & Associates, while still in school for his Bachelor's Degree in Ad & Art design. He was an active amateur astronomer, often found late at night peering through one of his many telescopes. He also loved photography as a hobby, taking after his father who was a successful sound and film engineer. After two decades in advertising, he switched his focus to the rail industry. Since childhood, Don had a deep love for trains, building many model trains and catching rides on the Long Island Rail Road where he befriended many engineers. He always considered himself a “train man.” He owned and operated multiple railcar operations for over 40 years, his proudest being a luxury private rail charter, Royal Rail, with notable guests including the King and Queen of Spain and the Bush family. He was also proud of his work with trains in the films Biloxi Blues and Rosewood. Later in life he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and operated a small church, Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel. He was an active member of the Servants of Jesus and Mary Apostolate located in Malone, New York, saying mass and prayers for thousands of intentions every month. He offered mass daily, heard confessions, baptized new Catholics into the faith, and gave away tens of thousands of blessed holy cards, hoping to help anyone and everyone he met. In his last years he also formed a small milk delivery business, where he enjoyed being a “milk man.” Don had an ironclad, unmatchable work ethic his entire life, always ready to take on more and dream bigger. He was an amazing, loving father, stepfather and husband, and a trustworthy and dependable friend who was always ready to listen and help, even if you were a stranger. In his later life he was a devout, humble servant of God and the Blessed Mother, Mary. He always prided himself on his work and his art, and above all was a supremely kind and loving man who profoundly touched countless lives.

His Memorial Visitation will be Tuesday, August 31, 2021, from 6-8 pm at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home (1360 N. Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953), with a Rosary at 7:30 pm. His Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at 10 am at Holy Family Traditional Catholic Church (3385 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935), with Burial to follow at Georgiana Cemetery (3970 Crooked Mile Rd, Merritt Island, FL). There will be no reception afterward. If you would like to send flowers, please send them to Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home no earlier than Monday (August 30) afternoon. You can also have a mass said for Don or say a prayer for him in remembrance. If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Primi at 321-626-8978.

For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass and Burial in person, we have created a Zoom meeting from which we will stream these services live. Details below:

Don Primi Funeral & Burial

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/2834221789?pwd=cmNUY29ETFpXdCs3RnN6ZjhMQTNFQT09

Meeting ID: 283 422 1789

Passcode: Primi