Native Staten Islander Donald J. Gundacker, a longtime Fort Wadsworth resident, died Sunday, April 28, at home. He was 87.
Donald was born Feb. 28, 1937 to Peter J. and Catherine (Weinperl) Gundacker.
Through his paternal grandmother, Donald is a direct descendant of Hendrick Sleight and his wife, Catherine Winant, the daughter of Peter Winant, who settled on Staten Island in the 1690s.
Donald married his wife, Margaret (Peggy Madden), on May 29, 1965 in St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Rosebank, where they remained active parishioners until it closed in 2015.
They raised their five children in the Fort Wadsworth family homestead, built in 1917 by Margaret’s grandparents, Joseph P. and Margaret (Laline) Morris.
Donald retired in 1989 from the NYC Dept. of Sanitation and quickly became engrossed in his favorite hobbies of fishing and crabbing with his children and grandchildren, as well as working in his garden, sharing its bounty with family, friends and neighbors.
He chauffeured and watched his daughters’ cheerleading, their tennis matches for Sea, and his sons’ bowling matches. And then his granddaughters’ volleyball, softball and soccer games for St. Joseph Hill, gymnastics and his grandson’s football games.
Donald was an avid sports fan, always everyone’s #1 fan, cheering loudly on the sidelines. He enjoyed watching his favorite professional team, the New York Yankees. He also loved to bake cakes, and he passed this love onto his granddaughters.
Donald was a member of the Fort Wadsworth Pelican Athletic Club for over 50 years, where each week he enjoyed watching and supplying drinks and snacks for their team as his son managed and played for the club’s softball team.
After the games, the team was always welcome to enjoy the rest of the day to swim and barbecue at “Donnie Land,” his home.
He was a proud supporter of the Jammers softball team as well, and enjoyed the laughs and shenanigans shared by all.
Donald was also a member of the National Guard, the Thomas Dongan Council Knights of Columbus 1251, and a Fourth Degree member of the Long Island Assembly 703 Knights of Columbus.
Donald is survived by his wife, Margaret; his sons, Donald (Margaret Widlicka) and John. His daughters Megan (Christopher Berardi) and Mary Catherine (Marcy) (Michael Frisz). Grandchildren Nicole and Donald Gundacker, Ashley and Amanda Frisz, John, JoEllen and Katelyn Gundacker, and step grandchildren Frank and Krystle Berardi.
Also, his siblings, Dennis (Maureen Ferraro), Darlene (the late Christopher Valente), Wesley A. (Joyce Fells); two nephews, Peter Ronnie (Jr) and Wesley (Jr); four nieces, Kim Ann, Cheryl, Kristy and Traci.
Donald is predeceased by his parents, his son Walter (Chip) in 2000, and siblings Peter, Ronald and Geraldine.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave., Staten Island, NY, with a funeral service Thursday May 2 at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Rosary R.C. Church, 80 Jerome Ave., Staten Island, NY. Committal Service at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 155 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).