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Donald Downer

Donald Downer passed away peacefully at CT Hospice on April 26, 2023. Donald was born Dec. 23, 1931, in Ware, Massachusetts, to Clifford and Geraldine (Bombriandt) Downer. He was married for 69 years to his sweetheart, Catherine (Gibbs) Downer.

Donald was raised in East Haven and in 1954 moved to Guilford, where he raised his family. Donald was a volunteer firefighter with Guilford Hook and Ladder Company and coached Guilford Little League Baseball. He was an usher and deacon with Christ Episcopal Church in Guilford. Donald owned the Guilford Coin Exchange with his brother Gordon for 35 years. He was an avid golfer and member of the Clinton Country Club and later the Hobe Sound Club in Florida, where he retired. He loved baseball and his beloved Red Sox, and he was a New York Giants fan.

He was the loving father of Cynthia Leslie and her husband Steve of Stuarts Draft, Virginia, Douglas Downer and his wife Paula of Guilford, and the late Clifford “Chip” Downer and his husband, Mark. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Alice (Everett) Neil, Justin (Pattye) Leslie, Madelyn (Jonathan) Foster, Shelbre (Robert) Downer, Jeremy Downer, and Colin Downer; and five great-grandchildren: Aaron, Nathan, Marta, Logan and McCoy. He was the brother of Jacqueline Belinger. He was predeceased by his brothers, Clifford and Gordon, and a sister Bernadette.

Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Meals-on-Wheels, 310 State Street, Guilford, CT 06437; https://givct.org/meals-on-wheels; Guilford Volunteer Fire Dept., 390 Church Street, Guilford, CT 06437; https://www.guilfordfire.com; Guilford Little League.

Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.