GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Donald Greydon Piper died peacefully Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at Haven Hospice, Gainesville, Fla. Don was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Newport, son of Quentin and Bernice Piper. He grew up in Dexter and Orono, graduating from Orono High School in 1954. He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Maine, where he was a brother at Phi Eta Kappa fraternity. Don served as an intelligence specialist in the U.S. Army in Germany, 1959-1961. He returned to the U.S. and began his teaching and coaching career at Jonesport High School. In 1963, he moved to Northfield, N.H., where he spent the next 20 years teaching, coaching, and serving as assistant principal and athletic director at Tilton-Northfield/Winnisquam Regional High School. Coach Piper led the Tilton-Northfield High School boys’ varsity basketball team to victory in the 1967 state championship. In 1983, Don moved to Gainesville, Fla., where he spent the remainder of his career serving Oak Hall Private School as director of development, assistant headmaster and social studies teacher. Don was an avid fan of all sports. He was a fervent golfer and an accomplished ping-pong player. He was a rabid fan of the Gators and the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball was Don’s first love and he served as a scout for the Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers. Don is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lynne Ellen (Marble) Piper; son, Michael Ross Piper of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; daughter, Penny Lynne Piper of Gainesville, Fla.; grandsons, Jordan Alan and Greydon Fisk Piper; and granddaughter, Jamie Ross Piper, all of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and sisters, Gwen Dore of Parker, Colo., and Marcia Biggane of Bangor. The family will announce the scheduling of a memorial service to be held in the spring of 2011 in Don’s hometown of Newport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Don’s remembrance to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226; Haven Hospice of Gainesville, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the care of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, Gainesville, Fla.
DONALD GREYDON PIPER
