Obituary of Donald W. Mansfield

Donald W. Mansfield, of Florham Park, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the age of 81.

Donald was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 29, 1937 to the late Donald and Helen Mansfield and was a longtime resident of Great River, NY. He relocated to Florham Park four years ago with his beloved wife of 54 years, Pamela Mansfield (nee Fairhurst).

Donald served his country honorably in the United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Dartmouth College. Donald went on to earn a master’s degree from Hofstra University in language and a master's degree in theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, NY.

Donald was a natural at teaching. He taught languages at both high school and college levels and will be remembered by generations of his students for his great energy and enthusiasm.

He was an avid reader of books and had a wide variety of hobbies. He loved to restore antique trucks and classic cars. Donald was a recreational pilot and was very proud of the ultralight aircraft that he and his brother-in-law built and piloted. Above all, Donald was a devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather. He was a man of great faith in God who had a good-hearted nature and will be deeply missed by all that loved and knew him.

In addition to his beloved wife, Pamela Mansfield, Donald is survived by his three sons, John Peter Mansfield and his wife, Christin, Donald Edward Mansfield and his wife, Gabriela, & Leigh Allen and his wife, Amy; one daughter, Allison Finnegan and her husband, Garrett; one brother, Jeffrey Mansfield; one sister, Leslie Weidner; and seven cherished grandchildren, Caleigh, Elizabeth, Juliana, Thomas, Sean, Katherine & Grace.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM on Monday, January 28, 2019 at St. Vincent Martyr RC Church, Madison. Interment will be held at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Donald’s life on Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions be made in Donald’s memory to St. Peter’s Orphanage, 170 Diamond Spring Rd, Denville, NJ 07834