Obituary for Donald E. Tash Sr.
ROCHESTER, NH - Donald E. Tash Sr., 82, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 23rd at his home in Rochester, NH after spending a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family in Portsmouth.
Don was born on April 28th, 1941 in Norway, ME to Mary (Culbert) Tash and Donald C. Tash.
The family, which included older brothers Dick and Jim and younger brother Bill, moved to Cape Elizabeth, ME in 1949 where he attended local schools and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1959.
Don met his wife Olive (Croteau) in 1961 while roller skating at St. Dom’s Arena in Lewiston, ME. They were married in 1963 and moved to Exeter, NH where Don was working at Sylvania as a building apprentice. Their son Donald Jr. was born in 1964 The young couple moved to Brentwood, NH in 1968 where they resided for more than 29 years and their daughter Kelly was born in 1970. Don served the town as Building Inspector in the 1970s and later served on the Planning Board. In his early construction career, Don worked for Salter Construction, Century Construction, Ricci Construction and Tinkham Construction. Don began working at Exeter Hospital in 1981 in the facilities department on a six-month contract that ended up lasting 30 years. After his initial contract ended, he was given the title of Contract Manager, a position he retained until his retirement in 2011. Don’s warm, endearing personality and willingness to lend a hand was known throughout the hospital. He formed genuine relationships with many of his contractors, fellow employees, doctors, and administrators.Professionally, Don was a problem solver of the highest order and his ability to instruct, lead and collaborate with others was exceptional. Personally, he loved helping anyone out at any time with anything. He was the go-to for family for advice with anything mechanical or home related. He put together more than his fair share of Christmas presents over the years! Don was also there in times of personal crisis and helped his children make many important decisions while also being a great sounding board as well. After his retirement, he helped his son Donald Jr. out with various professional construction jobs, which took them around the country. Don had a passion for snowmobiling and served as president of the Southern New Hampshire Trailblazers; during which time he ran safety courses and spent many late nights grooming miles of trails. He also co-founded the Brentwooders Snowmobile Club.
Don was also an avid boater. The family had a couple of slips at Mt. View Yacht Club in Gilford on Lake Winnipesaukee in the 1980s. Don also served as President of the yacht club during that time.
During this time in Brentwood, Don greatly enjoyed vacations to the British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and St. Thomas.
In 1997 Don and Olive moved to a house on Wheelwright Pond in Lee, NH where they resided for 10 years before moving to Secretariat Estates in Rochester in 2007. At Secretariat, Don served as the President of both the ISCA and SCCA. Don was a devoted family man who loved to watch his two granddaughters Alexandria and Brittany run cross country and track and his grandson Jake play hockey. Don was recently overjoyed to learn that Jake had made the Varsity A hockey team at the Tilton School. Don is survived by his wife of 60 cherished years, Olive (Croteau) Tash; his son Donald Tash Jr. and wife Lisa and grandson Jake of Barnstead, NH; his daughter Kelly Rogers and husband Keith and granddaughters Alexandria and Brittany of Portsmouth, NH; brothers Dick Tash and wife Fran of Washington, NH and Bill Tash and wife Louise of Spring Hill, FL and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Mary (Culbert) Tash and Donald C. Tash and his brother Jim Tash.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 1st from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Purdy Memorial Chapel in Lee, NH with a service to follow onsite at 4:30 p.m. and a reception also onsite after the conclusion of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gerry’s Food Pantry in Rochester (info below):
You can contact the SHARE Fund Food Pantry (also known as Gerry's Emergency Food Pantry) in person during our normal hours of operation through the Community Room entrance at the James Foley Memorial Community Center (right-side near the public tennis courts) 150 Wakefield Street (behind Spaulding High School) Rochester, NH 03867; phone us directly at 603-330-3468; or email us at sharefundfoodpantry@gmail.com
Don was born on April 28th, 1941 in Norway, ME to Mary (Culbert) Tash and Donald C. Tash.
The family, which included older brothers Dick and Jim and younger brother Bill, moved to Cape Elizabeth, ME in 1949 where he attended local schools and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 1959.
Don met his wife Olive (Croteau) in 1961 while roller skating at St. Dom’s Arena in Lewiston, ME. They were married in 1963 and moved to Exeter, NH where Don was working at Sylvania as a building apprentice. Their son Donald Jr. was born in 1964 The young couple moved to Brentwood, NH in 1968 where they resided for more than 29 years and their daughter Kelly was born in 1970. Don served the town as Building Inspector in the 1970s and later served on the Planning Board. In his early construction career, Don worked for Salter Construction, Century Construction, Ricci Construction and Tinkham Construction. Don began working at Exeter Hospital in 1981 in the facilities department on a six-month contract that ended up lasting 30 years. After his initial contract ended, he was given the title of Contract Manager, a position he retained until his retirement in 2011. Don’s warm, endearing personality and willingness to lend a hand was known throughout the hospital. He formed genuine relationships with many of his contractors, fellow employees, doctors, and administrators.Professionally, Don was a problem solver of the highest order and his ability to instruct, lead and collaborate with others was exceptional. Personally, he loved helping anyone out at any time with anything. He was the go-to for family for advice with anything mechanical or home related. He put together more than his fair share of Christmas presents over the years! Don was also there in times of personal crisis and helped his children make many important decisions while also being a great sounding board as well. After his retirement, he helped his son Donald Jr. out with various professional construction jobs, which took them around the country. Don had a passion for snowmobiling and served as president of the Southern New Hampshire Trailblazers; during which time he ran safety courses and spent many late nights grooming miles of trails. He also co-founded the Brentwooders Snowmobile Club.
Don was also an avid boater. The family had a couple of slips at Mt. View Yacht Club in Gilford on Lake Winnipesaukee in the 1980s. Don also served as President of the yacht club during that time.
During this time in Brentwood, Don greatly enjoyed vacations to the British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and St. Thomas.
In 1997 Don and Olive moved to a house on Wheelwright Pond in Lee, NH where they resided for 10 years before moving to Secretariat Estates in Rochester in 2007. At Secretariat, Don served as the President of both the ISCA and SCCA. Don was a devoted family man who loved to watch his two granddaughters Alexandria and Brittany run cross country and track and his grandson Jake play hockey. Don was recently overjoyed to learn that Jake had made the Varsity A hockey team at the Tilton School. Don is survived by his wife of 60 cherished years, Olive (Croteau) Tash; his son Donald Tash Jr. and wife Lisa and grandson Jake of Barnstead, NH; his daughter Kelly Rogers and husband Keith and granddaughters Alexandria and Brittany of Portsmouth, NH; brothers Dick Tash and wife Fran of Washington, NH and Bill Tash and wife Louise of Spring Hill, FL and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Mary (Culbert) Tash and Donald C. Tash and his brother Jim Tash.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 1st from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Purdy Memorial Chapel in Lee, NH with a service to follow onsite at 4:30 p.m. and a reception also onsite after the conclusion of the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gerry’s Food Pantry in Rochester (info below):
You can contact the SHARE Fund Food Pantry (also known as Gerry's Emergency Food Pantry) in person during our normal hours of operation through the Community Room entrance at the James Foley Memorial Community Center (right-side near the public tennis courts) 150 Wakefield Street (behind Spaulding High School) Rochester, NH 03867; phone us directly at 603-330-3468; or email us at sharefundfoodpantry@gmail.com