SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Donald L. A. Sawyer, 90, died of Alzheimer’s disease on Nov. 13, 2013, after a short stay at Sonogee. He was born Dec 3, 1922, in Westfield, N.J., his parents were Charles Edgar Appleby Sawyer and Mildred Lunn Sawyer.
He grew up in Jersey City, N.J., and was in the Army Air Corps as an instructor pilot in World War II. He married Agnes Sampson in 1948. He graduated from the University of Denver and later at the University of Maryland and Rutgers University for graduate degrees. Don was a commercial pilot for TWA for several years then worked for the Civil Aeronautics Board in Washington, DC, after that he taught science in private schools; he took early retirement and he and Aggie moved to Southwest Harbor. At age 65 he went back to school and earned a Masters Degree in Christian Counseling from Regent University and had a counseling practice in Southwest Harbor for many years. Don loved just about any activity if it was outside and continued to use his chain saw and split logs well into his 80s. He loved skiing, gardening and tennis and passed on his love of birding to all of his children. He was very active in Boy Scouting throughout his life. He was also a long-term member of the Southwest Harbor Fleet and his name is featured very heavily on the Tempest Trophy. The Episcopal Church was always an important part of his life and he was a long-time and well-loved member of Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Agnes; five children; four daughters, Karen O’Brien and her husband, Bill, of Austin, Texas, Copey McEntee and her husband, Thomas, of Leesburg, Va., Mim McConnell and her husband, Mike, of Sitka, Alaska, and Anna Letaw and her husband, Jim, of Woodbine, Md.; son, Lunn Sawyer and his wife, Denise, of Southwest Harbor; and twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
There will be a Mass of Christian burial held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove, with a reception following at the church. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Church of Our Father Outreach Committee, P.O. Box 186, Hulls Cove, ME 04644. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
Donald Lunn Appleby Sawyer
