Obituary for Donald Louis "Don" Massery, Sr.
Donald Louis Massery, Sr. died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Wednesday March 10, 2021.
Born in Pittsfield, MA on July 4, 1935 he was the son of the late Toufic Ameen and Nassab Amoon Massery.
He attended local schools and was a 1953 graduate of Pittsfield High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University. While attending BU he was selected to the Scarlet Key Honor Society and listed in the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities 1952-1953 edition.
Don loved his country and proudly served in the United States Army in the Surface to Air Missile, Army Air Defense Command and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
He was employed by the former Karam Insurance Agency prior to joining General Electric in the Ordinance Division. While at GE he transferred to New York City and was promoted to a Senior Specialist in the International Distribution Structure and Franchising group. In this role he travelled extensively internationally, his favorite trips being to the Middle East. He enjoyed the visits when he had the opportunity to take side trips to Aley and Beirut Lebanon, the birthplace of his parents and where he had extended family. He was transferred by GE back to Pittsfield in 1984 working in the Contract Organization of the Aerospace Defense Systems Department. He retired from GE in January 1993 after 26 years of service.
Don was never one to be idle, so in 1996 he became a Sales Representative for the Massachusetts State Lottery.
He was a communicant of St. Mark’s church and a member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth degree, the GE Elfun Society and the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners Club. Don was also a member of the American Legion Post 68. He served as President and a member of the Catholic Youth Center for many years. He also served on the boards of the Friends of Wild Acres and the Berkshire Regional Housing Authority as a governor appointee. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital held a special place in his heart, and he ran many fundraisers over the years to provide support to this important cause.
A longtime Republican activist he was active in the Berkshire County Republican Association, the Pittsfield Republican City Committee and state and local politics.
You could always find Don in his garage watching a western, smoking his cigar and enjoying a glass of cognac. Don was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and could be heard yelling at the television on numerous occasions. He was always ready with a joke and loved a good meal, especially if it contained any of his favorite Lebanese delicacies. Don was an avid gardener and he enjoyed tending a large vegetable garden filled with lots of parsley, tomatoes and scallions – all the fixings to make one of his favorite dishes – tabouli.
He loved to hunt and fish and was a master card player who always looked forward to a good game of pitch or pinochle.
Don married the love of his life, Sonia (“Sonny”) Marie Keeler, on April 19, 1966. He and Sonny had many adventures over their almost 55 years of marriage. Some of their favorite times were up in York, Maine where they would enjoy the beach, eat ice cream and enjoy the views at Nubble Lighthouse. He was a dedicated father to Donald L. Massery Jr. (Agatha), Danielle Driscoll and Darlene Karis (Tony). One of the most treasured role he played was being Giddo to his 6 grandchildren Jean-Pierre Boissy, Meghan Driscoll, Jacob Driscoll, Leo Massery, Joshua Massery and Duke Karis and 1 great-grandchild Jayden Boissy. He leaves one sister, Najlah Massery Antous, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved. Don was predeceased by his brothers Leo and Edward Massery and sisters Linda Hajjar and Marie Hilow.
His vivacious personality and larger than life character left an impact on all those he encountered. He will be dearly missed.
FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 9:30 am at St. Mark’s Church, 400 West St, Pittsfield, MA, celebrated by Rev. Christopher Fedoryshyn, Pastor. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or HospiceCare in the Berkshires in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Born in Pittsfield, MA on July 4, 1935 he was the son of the late Toufic Ameen and Nassab Amoon Massery.
He attended local schools and was a 1953 graduate of Pittsfield High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University. While attending BU he was selected to the Scarlet Key Honor Society and listed in the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities 1952-1953 edition.
Don loved his country and proudly served in the United States Army in the Surface to Air Missile, Army Air Defense Command and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
He was employed by the former Karam Insurance Agency prior to joining General Electric in the Ordinance Division. While at GE he transferred to New York City and was promoted to a Senior Specialist in the International Distribution Structure and Franchising group. In this role he travelled extensively internationally, his favorite trips being to the Middle East. He enjoyed the visits when he had the opportunity to take side trips to Aley and Beirut Lebanon, the birthplace of his parents and where he had extended family. He was transferred by GE back to Pittsfield in 1984 working in the Contract Organization of the Aerospace Defense Systems Department. He retired from GE in January 1993 after 26 years of service.
Don was never one to be idle, so in 1996 he became a Sales Representative for the Massachusetts State Lottery.
He was a communicant of St. Mark’s church and a member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth degree, the GE Elfun Society and the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners Club. Don was also a member of the American Legion Post 68. He served as President and a member of the Catholic Youth Center for many years. He also served on the boards of the Friends of Wild Acres and the Berkshire Regional Housing Authority as a governor appointee. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital held a special place in his heart, and he ran many fundraisers over the years to provide support to this important cause.
A longtime Republican activist he was active in the Berkshire County Republican Association, the Pittsfield Republican City Committee and state and local politics.
You could always find Don in his garage watching a western, smoking his cigar and enjoying a glass of cognac. Don was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan and could be heard yelling at the television on numerous occasions. He was always ready with a joke and loved a good meal, especially if it contained any of his favorite Lebanese delicacies. Don was an avid gardener and he enjoyed tending a large vegetable garden filled with lots of parsley, tomatoes and scallions – all the fixings to make one of his favorite dishes – tabouli.
He loved to hunt and fish and was a master card player who always looked forward to a good game of pitch or pinochle.
Don married the love of his life, Sonia (“Sonny”) Marie Keeler, on April 19, 1966. He and Sonny had many adventures over their almost 55 years of marriage. Some of their favorite times were up in York, Maine where they would enjoy the beach, eat ice cream and enjoy the views at Nubble Lighthouse. He was a dedicated father to Donald L. Massery Jr. (Agatha), Danielle Driscoll and Darlene Karis (Tony). One of the most treasured role he played was being Giddo to his 6 grandchildren Jean-Pierre Boissy, Meghan Driscoll, Jacob Driscoll, Leo Massery, Joshua Massery and Duke Karis and 1 great-grandchild Jayden Boissy. He leaves one sister, Najlah Massery Antous, and many nieces and nephews whom he loved. Don was predeceased by his brothers Leo and Edward Massery and sisters Linda Hajjar and Marie Hilow.
His vivacious personality and larger than life character left an impact on all those he encountered. He will be dearly missed.
FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 9:30 am at St. Mark’s Church, 400 West St, Pittsfield, MA, celebrated by Rev. Christopher Fedoryshyn, Pastor. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or HospiceCare in the Berkshires in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.