December 9, 2019. He was the son of Patricia Jean Smith and Leon Webster
Pierce. Don had been battling both kidney disease and acute lymphoma for more
than a year and fought it bravely and stoically.
Don was born June 21, 1949 in Detroit, MI. The family moved many times,
depending on where his father, who was a major in the Marines, was stationed.
Airbases in Florida, North Carolina and California became Don’s world.
In 1957, Don’s father was tragically killed while working as a test pilot for
Sikorsky Aircraft. In 1960 Patricia married Raymond James Dixon of Westport,
CT, a recently widowed father of three, creating a new blended family with six
children. The family lived in Westport for many years. Sadly, in 1992 Patricia was
widowed for a second time and subsequently married Cecil Gamwell, also of
Westport, CT. Don’s family continued to grow.
Don graduated from Staples High School in Westport, CT. He later attended New
England Aeronautical Institute, in Nashua, NH, where he earned his pilot’s license
to pursue one of his lifelong passions. Don graduated from New England College
with a degree in business during which time he studied and traveled abroad. In the
early 1970’s, he enlisted in the army, and was stationed in Germany. After serving
his country, Don travelled the Continent absorbing the cultural richness of Europe.
Then Don learned of an exciting opportunity at Union Carbide/Praxair, which led
to a successful 40-year career. Based in Seattle and San Francisco, he was a top
salesman with territories in the western United States and Asia.
Don had many interests and hobbies. His lifelong interest in aeronautics led him to
travel the world. He also loved golf, watching his beloved Seattle Seahawks, the
beach, gourmet foods and wine, entertaining, family, friends, animals, shopping,
and his Berkeley apartment view of San Francisco Bay. During summers and
holidays, Don loved his trips to New England to celebrate with family. When he
was back home, he was always a devoted son to his mother and they both enjoyed
travel to exotic locations. His time in La Quinta, CA and “retired life” in Vero
Beach, FL, were the icing on the cake. Don loved life.
He is survived by his partner of 27 years, Earl W. Davis, of Berkeley, CA; his
sisters, Pamela Gillespie and her husband, Paul of Billerica, MA and Melanie Bell
and her husband, Sam, of Weston, CT; and brother Paul Dixon and his wife, Beth,
of Brewster, MA, and cousins, nieces and nephews around the country.
The family is requesting any memorial contributions be directed to the National
Kidney Foundation at (Kidney.org) or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at
(LLS.org). The family is planning to arrange memorial celebrations on both the
east and west coasts in the spring
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