Donald M Rupert Jr.

Donald M. Rupert, Jr., 82, of Largo, FL died Thursday, July 8, 2021 at Suncoast Hospice in Pinellas Park after a brief illness. He was born in 1939 to Donald M. and Edith (Nagle) Rupert in Niagara Falls, NY. He graduated from Lewiston-Porter Highschool, Lewiston, NY and Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY. He joined the US Army as a commissioned officer in 1961 and, while serving at the Pentagon, attained the rank of 1st. Lieutenant. Don and family lived in Penn Yan, NY and was certified as a CPA while working a number of years at Seneca Foods in Dundee, NY. Later, he purchased Interstate Printing Services in Canandaigua, NY and moved to Seneca Lake. In 1995 he left the Finger Lakes area and moved to FL where he was a Transit Analyst with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority until his retirement in June, 2009. He volunteered as treasurer and president on various boards of directors throughout his lifetime. Donald was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Don took pride in doing his crosswords and sudokus in ink and was an avid bird watcher, as well as a loyal fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Don & Jan married in 1988 after Meredith & Jennifer decided to “play cupid” and introduced them so that they spent the next 33 years together enjoying Seneca Lake life and epic road trips from Florida to New England and up and down the Eastern Coastline. He enjoyed spending time with his many friends, but the time spent with his family was special. This sensitive side showed through with a secret smile or a mischievous wink or an extra-long hug. We’ll miss those amazingly blue eyes.

Don is survived by his wife, Janice Dunn; daughter, Meredith (David) Bray of Clearwater, FL; a son, Mark (Jenny) Rupert of Douglasville, GA and stepdaughter, Jennifer (Jeff) Emberg of Mt. Gilead, OH. Grandchildren are: Heather, Matthew, Philip and Tommy Emberg and Emmett and Adeline Rupert. A sister, Joan Swearingen and a brother, Douglas (Mary Ann) Rupert and many much loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents, brother-in-law Lowell Swearingen, and nephew, Curt Swearingen. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be sent to Suncoast Hospice or a benefactor of your choice.