Donald Prescott Markham,
85, beloved husband of Pauline (Lindquist) Markham, passed away Friday April
26th after a long convalescence. A
life-long resident of East Hampton, Donald, born November 5, 1927, was the son
of the late Percy P. and Rose (Knotek) Markham.
Family, community, service and commitment defined him. Donald, who preferred to be called Don, upon
graduation from East Hampton High School in 1945, enlisted in the U.S. Marine
Corps. WWII ended during his basic training, but he was placed as a member of
the inactive reserves. He worked for the
FBI in Washington, DC from 1946-1947, and in 1949 was called to active duty,
becoming a decorated Veteran of the Korean Conflict. Upon returning to East Hampton, he worked for
Thatcher Drug and then the Sisson Drug Co. of Hartford until 1961, at which
point President Kennedy appointed him East Hampton Post Master; a position in
which he proudly served for 26 years.
Don was actively involved in the life of the East Hampton community in
various capacities. He was a Master
Mason for over 50 years and served as Master of Anchor Lodge No. 112 AF &
AM during the 100th Anniversary (1971), as well as serving on the Masonic
Temple Association Board. He was a
founding member of the East Hampton Lions Club, Inc. in 1957. Don served as Commander of American Legion
Post No. 64 and was a life member, and, along with other veterans, revived Old
Home Day, serving as Co-Chair in 1953 and 1954.
He was a Charter member and first President of the Chatham Historical
Society, and was honored as Chairman of both the East Hampton Bi-Centennial
Committee in 1967 and the local Bi-Centennial Committee celebrating the
founding of our Nation in 1976. He was
also a board member of the Lake View Cemetery Association.
Serving his fellow citizens in town politics,
Don, a lifelong Democrat, was elected to the Board of Education in 1956, and
from 1969 to 1976 was an appointed member of the Water Pollution Control
Authority. From 1952 through 1960, he
served as the Democratic Town Committee Chairman. Don was elected to the East Hampton Town
Council in 1995, serving as Chair, and was reelected to 4 more terms (serving
through 2005).
Donald Markham - Town Council Chairman with (l-r) Chris Goff, William Farrell, Thomas Distefano, & Jane French.
Don is survived by
Pauline, his wife of 65 years, and sons: Dean P. Markham and his wife Debbie of
East Hampton, their children Nicole F. Markham of Newport, RI, Danielle P.
Mathias and her husband Greg and great-grandson Desmond of Phoenixville, PA,
and Gregory D. Markham and his wife Kira and great-grandchildren Sandra and
Alexander of East Hampton; and Allan N. Markham and wife Sharon of East
Hampton, and their sons David A. Markham of East Hampton, and Stephen P.
Markham and his wife Colleen and great-grandson Chase of Pembroke, MA. The family sincerely thanks the caring and
loving staff of Middletown Health Care who provided for his well-being and
comfort. Friends are invited to call at
Spencer Funeral Home 112 Main Street East Hampton on Monday April 29th between
the hours of 5-8 P.M. Funeral services
will be conducted by The Rev. Michelle Madsen-Bibeau (Haddam Neck Covenant
Church), at Spencer Funeral Home on Tuesday April 30th commencing at 11
A.M. Burial will follow at Lake View
Cemetery. Pall Bearers were Robert Lanzi, Robert McKinney, Evan Rea, Philip Visintainer, Gregory Mathias and Gregory Markham.
In lieu of flowers, the family
would appreciate a donation in Don's memory to a local charity or organization such
as the East Hampton Food Bank, 20 East High St., the East Hampton Ambulance Association at
P.O. Box 144, or the Lake View Cemetery Fence Restoration Project at P.O. Box
71, all in East Hampton at 06424, or
give the gift of life - become a blood donor with the American Red Cross.
