Donald Roberts

Donald J. "Don" Roberts, age 87, died on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Neighborhood Hospice, a loving and caring community in West Chester, PA. While there, Don was surrounded by many family members, friends, and a variety of incredible staff of the hospice. Other family members and a multitude of friends were there in spirit and prayer.



Don was born and raised in Woodside, NY. Immediate family members included his parents, Tom and Helen Roberts; brothers, Stan and Frank and sister, Regina. Don was the last surviving member of the immediate family.

He was educated in the Jesuit tradition and attended Saint Ann's Academy in New York City, New York graduating class of 1946 and later, Fordham University in New York City, New York. While at Saint Ann's, Don played for the baseball team and continued a particular talent that carried forward throughout much of his life, highlighted by a "neighborhood" duel against the future Yankee great, Whitey Ford, in some unnamed ball field in Queens, New York (final score never shared).

For much of his life, Don was employed in the advertising field and worked for McGraw Hill Publishing Company. Prior to his work with McGraw Hill, and determined not to let a promising pitching career slip away unrealized because of the readily foreseen condition known as "no money and mouths to feed," Don switched to softball (aka - second job). Payment for pitching $20 paid by neighborhood sponsoring bar - buy one round for teammates at said bar after victory $5 - net pay $15 - rush home with balance. His windmill prowess left many batters baffled and inquiring with the ump whether the ball actually left his hand or not as the catcher threw back the unblemished white orb. Catchers were encouraged to wear "cups." Some listened, some didn't, and some went on to sing soprano in the church choir.



Don met his wife-to-be, Dorothy T. Rafferty in Queens, New York, one of a desirable duo of twins that broke hearts far and wide throughout Astoria, New York. Dot and Don gave birth to 5 "D-lightful" children Donald, Dennis, Denise, Deborah, and Diane. And yes, they had a dog named Duchess. The family expanded exponentially, and currently includes a list of sons and daughters-in-law - Peggy, Margie, Jim, Roger, and Joe; a bevy of grandchildren - Michael, Emily, Abby, Courtney, Jesse, Luke, Nicky, Colleen, Chrissy, Jessica, Ryan, Kory and Kelly; and a growing list of great grandchildren Jack, Lily, Grace, Kyle, Nicholas, Brooke, Ellie, Addison, Hannah, Colton, Grady, Sloan, Daniel, and Ryan.



Never a slave to fashion, Don single handedly tried to revive the appeal of plaid in haute couture. Despite the ridicule of a multitude of loving family members, Don continued to "light up the room" with a display of plaid pants and sweaters (often worn together) that would even make a Scotchman blush. So the next time you see plaid - know that Don's work continues posthumously.



For a variety of people, and for their own very special reasons, Don will be remembered dearly. By friends and coworkers he will be remembered as "the great deliverer" - of Entenmann's cakes purchased on behalf of others at the outlet store because they were "cheap and almost as good as fresh." For the grandchildren and the great grandchildren, he will be remembered as "the Great Poppa" - keeper of an unending supply of Oreo cookies - a "salve" that instantly cured even the worst scraped knee. For his children, he will always be remembered as a loving and wonderful father for whom we will be forever grateful.