Donald Franklin Mountford,  April 25, 1932 - May 27, 2022

Don passed away Friday morning at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, NJ after a brief illness.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lura, his three children, daughter Dr. Alison Leigh Mountford (husband Peter Diianni) of Wayland, MA, son William Ernest Mountford II (wife Missy Conboy) of Granger, IN, and son Gary Wells Mountford (wife Lynn) of New London, NH.   He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Darby Mountford, Alexandra Mountford, Delaney Mountford, Jackson Diianni , Ensign Killian Mountford, Amelia Mountford, Jacqueline Mountford, and Emma Diianni , and his sister Gloria Jene Hopping of Florham Park, NJ.

Don grew up in South Orange, NJ and graduated from Columbia High School in 1951 where he distinguished himself with his acting ability on the stage.  He then earned a BA degree from Trinity College, becoming the first of his family to earn a college degree.   While at Trinity he was a member of Delta Phi, and using his outgoing social skills, soon found himself as a go-to resource for dating opportunities at nearby colleges.

After college Don enjoyed a 19-year career at J. C. Penney working primarily as a buyer of children’s clothing.    His retailing career at Penney’s was interrupted when he was drafted into the US Navy and served for the requisite 21 months.  He returned to Penney’s where his well-honed visual acuity served him well when selecting sales items.   From there he successfully transferred those skills along with his reputation for hard work and honesty and represented several other companies selling to Penney’s. 

Don and Lura began married life in 1958 in Fort Lee, NJ but soon moved westward to Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ to begin raising their family, and from there in 1968 to the Smoke Rise section of Kinnelon, NJ.   During that period Don was an active member of the community, serving on the Board of Governors and overseeing beach and swim team operations.    Once fully retired, he began using his sales experience and visual skills to operate an antique booth and run house sales for friends moving elsewhere.    He also began experimenting with the culinary arts and enjoyed his growing reputation for his ability to tweak the family recipes and serve family and friends.

In 1998 the couple began dividing their time between NJ and St Andrew’s Village in Melbourne Beach, FL.   Don’s happiest hours continued to be his enjoyment of the evening sunsets and the three-mile view across the Indian River Lagoon along with the fish, animal, and human activity in between.  Don also remained active with his connection to Trinity College’s Class of 1955, serving in the latter years as “President Emeritus”, faithfully phoning its members, and keeping the class connected through reunions, mini-reunions, and an occasional Zoom session.

Memorial services are yet to be decided.  Contributions in his honor, meanwhile, may be made to Trinity College in Hartford, CT or to Brevard County’s Barrier Island Center in Melbourne Beach, FL.