Obituary of Donald R. Begin

Donald R. Begin, 84, of Topsfield, died peacefully Wednesday evening at his home surrounded by his family after a long illness. A native of Salem, Ma, he was born on September 12, 1920, the son of the late Wilfred J. and Marion (Treadwell) Begin and was a graduate of Salem High School in 1939 where He excelled as an end on the Football Team. He entered the University of New Hampshire and played on the Football, La Crosse and Hockey Teams. He left in his Junior year in 1942 and entered the US Navy during WW II. He served as an squadron commander pilot in the Asiatic Pacific theatre campaign and was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross award. Following his discharge, he returned to the University of New Hampshire and played on the 1947 Football team that went to a Bowl game. He had been a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity and was later inducted into the UNH Sports Hall of Fame. After college, he became a pilot for Pan American World Airways for 23 years until his retirement in 1975. With his love of sports and grandchildren in Masonomet Regional High School, he helped form the the Lacrosse team there as a club team for 2 years until it became a competitive sport. He had also coached the Exeter Academy Hockey team in the late forties and refereed in the La Crosse Prep League. He was a resident of Topsfield for the past 50 years and was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a member of Ducks Unlimited program. He is survived by his wife of 60 years of marriage, Nancy (Killam) Begin, a past president of the Topsfield Fair, a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffory and Elizabeth Begin of Portland, ME, 2 daughters and a son-in-law, Christy and Michael Stusse of West Barnstable, Ma and Andrea Di Nardo of Hamilton, Ma., a sister, Priscilla Saunders Collette of Meredith, NH, 6 grandchildren, Nathaniel and James Stusse, Samuel and Sarah Eliza Begin and Peter and Jeffrey Di Nardo; 4 great grandchildren and many Nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, June 13th at the Topsfield Congregational Church, Topsfield Common at 11:00 AM with Rev. Norman Bendoth officiating. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Masconomet Reg. School District Lacrosse restricted fund, c/o Jack Arrmitage, P.O. Box 1, Topsfield, MA 01983 in his memory.