Don McAfee

October 4, 1931 - March 22, 2017

Don McAfee of Sammamish, WA, peacefully passed away on March 22nd, 2017, in Rancho Mirage, CA, from multiple illnesses, most impactful were end stage dementia and Parkinson’s disease. He took his last breath holding hands with Marcia, his wife of 21 years. He was born October 4, 1931, in Hobart, IN, and lived there until going to Ball State University in Muncie, IN, where he starred in football and worked his way through school, earning his teaching certificate. He married Marianne McMillan and they were blessed with three children, Kim, Kevin and Cole. His first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse in Sierra City, CA, and throughout his early career taught elementary, junior high and high school students in several western states and an Indian reservation. After earning a Master's and a Doctorate degree in Health Education, he taught as an associate professor at Central WA State College for 3 years. He moved on to become Director of Nutrition Education for the National Dairy Council in Chicago for 10 years and traveled the country, speaking on university campuses and conferences in 46 states on the importance of health and nutrition education. He testified before the Senate committee and was an influence in making a law mandating health and nutrition education in public schools. He returned to academia and taught at the U of NM in Albuquerque as an associate professor for 3 years. Don was an "out of the box" thinker, teacher and constant researcher. Add in some Irish stubbornness and that leads to a rumor he may have been terminated from more than 50% of the jobs he held as he advanced through his career! He moved back to Washington in 1985 to be closer to his family and held various jobs until he retired in 2000. He and Marcia married in 1996. In notes he left behind, he wrote that Marcia was his greatest joy in life. Don was a humble but proud blue-eyed, dimpled Irishman, an avid hunter and accomplished fly fisherman. He fished every river and lake he ever wanted and enjoyed hunting big game and birds. A dog lover, he usually had his dog at his feet. A voracious reader, he had 2-3 books going at one time. At age 84, he spent the winter as a reading tutor for under-served Hispanic children, creating his own lesson plans. He had a big heart and wanted to help those less fortunate than he was. He hated injustice of any kind, anywhere in the world. Over the years, he enjoyed snow skiing, tennis, writing, photography, sipping Irish whiskey, attending live theater and listening to classical music. Beautiful music often brought him to tears. He loved puttering in his shop with tools and frequently created special gifts for family and friends using his woodworking skills. He completed everything on his Bucket List, especially a trip to Ireland for fly fishing and touring. A man of few words, when he spoke, people listened. He was famous for his wit, sense of humor and one-liners. When asked why he didn't talk much, he replied, "If I'm the one talking, then I'm not learning anything." He was a lifelong learner; history, science and religion were his favorite topics to study. Don's immediate family are his brother Jim McAfee, wife Marcia McAfee, daughter Kim Boyden (Tom), son Kevin McAfee (Stephanie), son Cole McAfee (Julie), stepson Tyler Dion (Karen) and stepson Jeremy Dion. He will be missed dearly by those who called him “Grandpa Mac” or “Papa Don” - grandchildren Kyle, Carly, Jaianne, Garret, Mallory, Kayla, Joshua, Owen and Avery. He was a proud great-grandpa of Rooney and Cadence. An Irish Wake will be held in his honor at Sahalee Country Club http://www.sahalee.com/ in Sammamish, WA, Sunday May 21st at 1 PM. Friends are invited to help celebrate his well-lived life. Memorials can be sent to Hope Lutheran Church, Palm Desert, CA, http://hopelutheran.church/give/ Rotary Foundation of Sammamish http://www.sammamishrotary.org/ or a charity of your choice.