A family man who led a principled life defined by sportsmanship and fair play
CONCORD, N.H. — Donald “Don” R. DiNapoli, 87, of Concord, N.H., passed away August 10, 2023 surrounded by his family.
Born in Boston, Don was the third of five sons of an Italian immigrant, Orazio DiNapoli, and Dorothy (MacMillen) DiNapoli. Don was raised in Belmont and he graduated from Belmont High School in 1953. As a hockey co-captain he received the Belmont High Gordan Memorial award for “sportsmanship and fair play,” which defined how he lived. Don attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute while working for P. DiNapoli (Trucking) Co.
Don served in the United States Army Reserves as a truck operator. During the summers growing up in Rockport, he was the designated family lobster catcher and owner of his own pots and buoys. His Mom had dibs on the first 25 lobsters with the rest sold for pocket money.
He was an active volunteer with Concord Youth Hockey during the years his three sons played. Don celebrated his retirement from Concord Litho in 1997 after 37 years of service by purchasing “the Mazda red truck” still used today by family. In his retirement he worked at the Common Man Concord as their “chair repairman” fixing restaurant chairs and other small maintenance items until 2020.
Don spent his time visiting neighbors and walking around his neighborhood with his fur side kick, Sophie Elizabeth. The two were inseparable!
Don married his love, Sheila (Clinton), on June 14, 1958 and they celebrated 57 years of marriage before her passing. Together they had five children, Beth (Andy Jones), John (Joy Starbuck), Michael (Kim Nicolai), and Bridget, 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Paul, his daughter-in-law, Dr. Pam (Pershing) DiNapoli, and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his wife Sheila, their son, Dr. D. Richard “Rick” DiNapoli Jr., and his brothers, Roger, Robert (Bob), and Philip.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 172 King St., Boscawen, N.H. 03303 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a service beginning at 12 p.m.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Whittaker Place and the Merrimack County Nursing Home through Don’s last two years of dementia and Alzheimer’s. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston MA 02284-9168; Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord, Merrimack County, 94 Silk Farm Rd., Concord, N.H. 03301, or Concord Youth Hockey, P.O. Box 682, Concord, N.H. 03302-0682.
To leave a message of condolence, or for more information please visit https://csnh.com/.