Donald was a founder of Berkowitz-Kumin Memorial Chapel and a funeral director for over 50 years. Over the decades he helped thousands of Cleveland families honor their loved ones. Doing this job he loved made himself one of the few privileged to help and serve so many.
He became a Mason and continued on to become a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was a member of the Golden Square Masonic Lodge and then later a member of Forest City Masonic Lodge No. 388.
Donald was a 23 year survivor of breast cancer and spoke on the subject when interviewed by the University of Miami Health System about his experience as a survivor. The interview is online here (https://news.umiamihealth.org/en/men-get-breast-cancer-too/).
A graduate of Glenville High School and Ohio University, he finished his schooling at the Cleveland Mortuary College.
Donald served in the Army attaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He was a tank commander serving at Camp Rucker, AL.
He had many hobbies including metal sculpting - creating figures of people playing, dancing and scenes of life. He was a restorer of old, leather-bound books; bringing hundreds of antique books back to like-new condition. He was a bowler and an avid golfer. Donald loved Big Band and Swing-era music. He fancied himself a grill-master but gave over duties to his sons Michael and Jeremy as soon as they were interested in grilling. For many years he belonged to the Cleveland Toastmasters Club and there developed his public speaking abilities.
Donald supported and participated in many organizations in Northeast Ohio; including funding a camper scholarship for Congregation B’nai Jeshurun youth and establishing the Sharon L. Kumin Scholarship at the Cleveland Institute of Art in memory of his late, first wife. He was one of the investors that brought Glidden House Hotel to the University Circle; believing with others that the area would support a beautiful boutique hotel.
Beloved husband of Irene Kumin (nee Magden) of Delray Beach, FL for 20 years and husband of the late Sharon L. Kumin (nee Ross) for 44 years; devoted father of Michael (Lynne) Kumin, Robin (George Miller) Kumin of Columbus, OH and Jeremy (Barbara) Kumin; loving grandfather of Zachary Kumin, Rachel Kumin and Jonathan Kumin; dear brother of the late Patricia Turoff; dearly loved uncle and cousin of many.
Funeral services were held at BERKOWITZ-KUMIN-BOOKATZ MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1985 S. Taylor Rd., Cleveland Hts. on Friday, October 30th. Forest City Masonic Lodge services and military honors preceded the funeral service.
To view the funeral service please navigate to https://youtu.be/F4uDwh4ASOI.
Interment was held at Mt. Olive Cemetery (Forest City Hebrew section).
Donations in Donald’s memory are suggested to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bkbmc.com for the Kumin family.
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