Donald "Dee" Ward

Donald “Dee” Ward, 63, of Costa Mesa, CA, passed away at his home into the loving arms of Jesus on Thursday, August 26th. Born August 12th, 1958, in Newport Beach, CA, Dee was a devoted husband and family man who loved deeply and was known for his kindness and generosity. He graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1977 where he played football and ran track. He was an All-Sunset League and All Orange County defensive back with the Tars and received a full scholarship with the Oregon State Beavers.

A businessman and entrepreneur, Dee founded Newport Harbor Recovery, a family-run rehabilitation center from which he would help thousands of people find serenity in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. Throughout his career he also managed, owned, and built many apartment and rental properties throughout Orange County. Like his father before him, Dee was an active member of Santa Ana Country Club and a regular at the Hyatt Jazz concerts. His many friends regarded him as an excellent golf buddy and recount how he loved spending time on the course with his friends.

Dee found his Christian faith as an adult, being baptized and completing his initiation sacraments into the Catholic faith at St. Joachim’s church through their Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. At the time of his passing, he was a leader in the RCIA program, nurturing others going through the process so that they too could find the peace in faith that he had. Dee treated everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserved and died with no ill will in his heart. He was a true disciple of Christ in every way.

Dee was beloved by those around him for his generosity and insatiable appetite for life. All in the same day, we could find Dee golfing at the country club and then later climbing up a tree with chainsaw in hand and a cigar wedged into his smile. While he loved fishing, he most enjoyed sharing filets of freshly caught Bluefin tuna with friends and family. He had a green thumb and left behind gardens of plumeria, bird of paradise, and rose bushes throughout his many properties in the Costa Mesa area for all to enjoy in his memory. He filled his home with flowers for his beloved wife, who through his eyes was and will always be the perfect wife. As a father, he held his sons accountable to his high expectations, but as a grandfather he melted when baby Henry or Julia squeezed his thumb. He was a testament of Christ’s love for us all and embodied the fruits of the spirit.

Dee Ward is survived by his loving wife, Sheila, and three sons; Andrew Ward and wife, Elisabeth, and their son, Henry of Boston, MA; son, Benjamin Ward of New York City, NY; son, Michael Williams and wife, Caitlin, and their daughter, Julia of Denver, NC. Dee is also survived by his mother, Barbara Ward, and his four siblings, Corrie, Mollie, Merrie, and Gilbert. Lastly, he is survived by his beloved pets; dogs Kona, Chiquita, and Winston, and Bobby the bobcat. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Ray “Donnie” Ward.

Funeral arrangements will be made by Pacific View Mortuary and services will be held at St. Joachim’s Church, on Saturday September 4. Rosary will be at 10am followed by a funeral mass at 10:30am.

To make a donation in memory of Dee, please consider a contribution to the “One Faith, One Family, One Future” capital campaign at Saint Joachim Catholic Church. Dee was the co-chair of this campaign which will provide much-needed church building enhancements. Please click on the link below under "Donations":

For those unable to join the funeral mass in person, the service will be streamed online at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1XsCMOIFZI or click on the link under "Donations"