Donald Michael Lazarus

Donald was born February 3, 1943 in Detroit, MI to the late Donald Joseph Lazarus and Jeanne McGee Lazarus. He graduated from Denby High School in 1961 and a BA from Wayne State University in 1966. While completing his degree at Wayne State, he worked for General Motors headquarters in Detroit and also joined a pilot program at WSU that later became the Teacher Corps. He taught in Detroit Public Schools and Warren Van Dyke P.S. while completing an M.Ed. from the University of Michigan in 1974. Donald began his career as an administrator in Coopersville, MI followed by Hartford, MI; Glenview, IL; and Caledonia, MI. He obtained his Ed.D. from WSU in 1984 and taught as an adjunct at Grand Valley State University (MI). His love of travel led him to the International School of Bangkok (73-75) and Teheran American School (77-78). He retired from Michigan Public Schools in 1978 and moved with his wife to Naples, FL where he enjoyed golfing, watching his son complete high school, hosting visiting family “snowbirds”, and being a literacy coach for the Collier County Public Schools.

Donald moved to Doha, Qatar with his wife in 2003 and worked at various education related positions including a position as a literacy coach at Qatar Academy. In 2008 Donald and Brenda moved to Chapel Hill, NC, followed by a move to Durham, NC to be closer to their grandchildren.He enjoyed golfing, hiking, gardening, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, ushering at the Durham Bulls ballpark, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 55 years, Donald is survived by his son Nicholas (Nick) Lazarus, daughter-in-law, Kristina Franklin Lazarus of Raleigh, NC, and beloved grandchildren, Brooks (9), Anders (8) and Rowan (2). He is also survived by his brother Gary Lazarus (Adele) of Brighton, MI and his sister, Susan Ciaramitaro (Matt) of Franklin, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Linda (Paul) Pecoraro of Shelby Township, MI.

Per his wishes, there will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Durham, NC.

The Lazarus family is under the care of Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina by using the link below, under 'Donations', or to a charity of your choice, or a small act of kindness in his memory.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Donald, or a message of condolence to his family, you may do so below, under 'Add a Memory'.