Donald Berry, beloved husband of Janet “Jan” Berry, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Monday, June 21, 2022.
He was born on January 21, 1935 in Albany, Vermont, son of the late George and Gladys (Griggs) Berry. As a child he moved from Vermont to Connecticut and graduated from Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon, Connecticut. He worked for several years as a Willimantic Police Officer and then he was a DEEP Park Forest Ranger for more than 25 years. After he retired, he managed both the Haddam and Killingworth Transfer Stations. After many years of living in Hebron, Durham and Haddam, he and Jan retired to Killingworth. Don was a member of the Masons Wooster Lodge 10 AF & AM of Colchester and he loved watching the New York Yankees, UConn women’s basketball games, saltwater fishing, hunting and telling his “off color” jokes to anyone who would listen.
Don is survived by his loving wife of sixty-five years, Jan; his grandchildren Jack Berry and his partner Kelly, Danny Berry and his fianceé Jill, Richard “Nick” Gardner and his wife Catherine and Ashley Eliza Gardner; his daughter-in-law Theresa Berry; many nieces and nephews; his special caregiver, Dianne Hines, who helped both Don and Jan; and a great-grandchild due in October. He was predeceased by his children, Robert Berry, Roxanne Berry and Rhonda Gardner; his brother Dean Berry and his wife Pat.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Beechwood Community Center, 18 Swan Lake Trail, Killingworth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Killingworth Fire Department or Killingworth Ambulance Association, 333 Route 81, Killingworth, CT 06419.
