Donald Harper

Donald J. Harper died June, 6, 2021 at Sand Hill Cove's Water's Edge nursing home. He and his family received excellent care from the staff of Water's Edge and Treasure Coast Hospice.

He was born in 1928 in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a mailman and his mother a homemaker. After graduating from Maine High School in June 1945 he joined the Army Specialized Training Program, attended Michigan State for 3 months, then served in the regular army until July 1948.

After his military service he attended the University of Illinois on the GI Bill and graduated in June of 1950. He started his long, successful career with the John Paulding Company as a salesman. He moved up the ladder and became an executive with Emerson Electric in St. Louis in 1959. An even bigger move was to Bayville, NY in 1970 because he had accepted the position of president of Fisher Stereo. The last move up was in 1980, to Cheshire, CT and Insilco where he became CEO. He retired in 1990 and became a resident of Piper's Landing in Palm City.

Don met his wife Bee on a blind date with friends while attending college. They were married in April of 1951. Their daughter Laura was born in 1952 (on Don's birthday!). They also had 3 sons: Steve 1952, Greg 1955, and Peter 1965. Don is survived by all his children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Sadly, his wife Bee died in early 1996 after a battle with cancer.

After a difficult period of mourning, Don was introduced to Nancy Schmidt at Piper's Landing who had also recently lost her spouse. Romance quickly bloomed and they were married the day after Thanksgiving. The combined 9 children of the newly blended family celebrated and gave thanks for the wedding. At Pipers and later Sand Hill Cove they were known for their

travels. They visited Africa, many US National Parks, cruised the Burgundy in France, as well as trips to Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. Don and Nancy would have celebrated their 25th anniversary this Thanksgiving.

Besides a very successful career, Don was a firm believer in "giving back". The Harper family was very thankful for the care that Bee had received from the Treasure Coast Hospice. Don made a contribution and in thanks what had been known as Residence #2 became the "Barbara Harper Residence". Don and his sons also started the "Harper Care Fund" which provides financial aid to hospice patients with items not covered by insurance.

Don was a firm believer in the value of education, he made generous contributions to the University of Illinois. He also helped start the scholarship fund at Sand Hill Cove that helps fund the post secondary education of employees and their children.

In addition to his career and philanthropy, he enjoyed life to the fullest. He took up skiing in New Hampshire in his 40s. Owned and captained 4 different boats and even learned to fly at age 50.

He always loved golf, and even after a stroke in 1995 he worked hard to be able to return to playing golf. As he said in the memoir that he wrote for his 80th birthday celebration (copies of which were served along with the dessert): "There are many times when things do not go right or the way you wished they would. Instead of bemoaning the fact, just go ahead and try again with a different approach and a different attitude and things may just work out as you want."

A memorial service will be held at Palm City Presbyterian Church on June 10 at 11:00am. Friends who would like to make contributions in his honor should make them to either the Harper Care Fund at the Treasure Coast Hospice or the Sandhill Cove Scholarship Fund.