Obituaries

Donald John Vazquez

Donald John Vazquez, devoted husband, proud father and loving grandfather and great-grandfather, aged 85, of Basking Ridge, N.J., peacefully left this world on May 28, 2016. 

Don was born in Locust Valley on July 23, 1930, to Gregory Vazquez of Lugo, Spain, and Madeline McDonough Vazquez of Glen Cove. He graduated in 1949 from Mineola High School, where he excelled on the football and baseball teams. He attended Farmingdale College and played semi-pro football for the Aggies. He graduated with a degree from New York Tech in 1981.

Don worked at Grumman Aerospace for 34 years before fully retiring. Originally from Williston Park, Don and his family were longtime residents of Smithtown and Southold.

In 1963, Don was the All Events Bowling Champion of Nassau and Suffolk counties. He was an accomplished golfer with a hole-in-one and winner of a number of longest drive competitions. In addition, Don was a Suffolk County High School football referee and baseball umpire for many years. He was a proud father who spent much of his retirement years enjoying music, singing and visiting his children and grandchildren all over the country. Nothing made Don happier than talking about his family.

Don is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean (Popielaski) Vazquez of Williston Park; sons Donald “Bud” Vazquez Jr. of Bedford, Mass., James “Corky” Vazquez of Gambrills, Md., and Alan Vazquez of Miramar Beach, Fla.; and daughter Donna (Vazquez) Galindez of Hoboken, N.J. He was the proud grandfather of Christine, Thomas, James Jr., Daniel, Marley, Christian, Alexander John (“AJ”) and Sarah Georgina; great-grandfather of Levi; and admired father-in-law of Ann Vazquez, Sylvia Vazquez, Molly Vazquez and Edgar Galindez. He was brother to Marie Howard, Delores Morehouse, Rita Piraino and Gregory Vazquez Jr. Don was also an uncle many times over on both sides of his family.

A memorial Mass will be held Monday, June 13, at Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Warrior Initiative, P.O. Box 30624, Clarksville, TN 37040 (warriorinitiative.org) or Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, 200 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 (visitingnurse.org).

This is a paid notice.