Commander Donald Robert Mayer

Commander Donald Robert Mayer, USN Retired, age 86, passed away peacefully at Sunrise of Mercer Island on August 5, 2010 after a long and full life. Born September 9, 1923 in Torrington, Connecticut, Donald grew up in Nyack, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940, and after serving aboard the USS Saratoga for two and a half years, he received an appointment to the Naval Academy, graduating in 1946 with a B.S. in Naval Science (class of 1947). Cdr. Mayer went on to earn his naval aviator wings and to receive a B.S and MS in Engineering and Electronics from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey in 1954. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1959. After retiring from the Navy in 1969, he served at Boeing as a program manager and electrical engineer in integrated anti-submarine missile systems until 1982. Donald was a member of the Mercer Island Masonic Lodge and was an avid gardener, sailor, baker, and storyteller. His sense of humor stayed with him until the end, and he will be missed by friends and family alike. Donald was preceded in death by his three brothers Joseph, Richard, and Albert. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lorraine Polhemus Mayer; his six children, Donald Robert Mayer, Jr. (Cheryl Davidson), Dariel Mayer (Charles Almquist), Robert Mayer, Nancy Mayer, Anne Lang (John), and John Mayer; thirteen grandchildren; and thirteen great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be sent to Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation, 425 Pontius Ave. N., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98109. Inurnment will be at the memorial garden of Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Mercer Island; at Donald’s request, no memorial service is planned.