Obituary of Donald J. MacIver

Donald MacIver passed away at the early age of 69 on Sunday, December 12th at Baystate Hospital surrounded by his wife and daughters after a tireless fight against a rare cancer and its complications. Don, son of the late Gordon and Gertrude MacIver, was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on May 26, 1952, and lived his whole life in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Don leaves behind and will be missed by his wife of 43 years, Joan Caulfield MacIver; his daughters, Heather Hambley and her husband Jeffrey, and Andrea Sullivan and her husband Collin; his three cherished grandsons Mack Hambley, Bryce Hambley and Grayson Sullivan; his sister Jean O’Brien and twin sister Donna MacIver; his sister-in-law Lynn Lak and her husband Billy; and his cousins Patt Raymond, Bill Downs, John Downs and the late Barbara Dugre. Don will also be missed by his nieces and nephews: April Cimorelli and her husband Peter and their sons Ben and AJ, Amy Dressel and her daughter Meghan, and the late Angela Sanocki and her children Ashley and Zaccary. In addition to his parents, Don was predeceased by his sisters-in-law Michel Reberkenny and Gail Vance, his brother-in-law Mark O’Brien and his aunts Thelma Giera and her husband Gus, and Ruthie Downs and her husband Bill. Don worked 50 years for Big Y Foods, starting as a bag boy and finishing up as the Director of Operations of Table & Vine. After retiring, Don, who always liked to stay busy, flipped several houses, including his Cape Cod house while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. While Don loved his New England sports teams, he was a true Red Sox fan—never missing the chance to see a ballgame, including two playoff games in October of this year. Don traveled extensively in his life, but his favorite place was Aruba, where he actually enjoyed relaxing and “doing nothing.” In his later life, Don’s most meaningful role was being “Gramps” to his three grandsons, coaching each of them on the fundamentals of baseball. Don also enjoyed Jimmy Buffett concerts, a well-stocked tailgate party and, of course, cold Amstel lights. Don fought for every last minute he had on Earth with his family, and words will never express how sorely he will be missed. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, https://cholangiocarcinoma.org/ or donate blood to any local blood bank. Visitation will be held Friday, December 17th from 5-7pm at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home. Masks are required.