Donald Cone

Niantic — Donald Cone crossed into Heaven on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, while surrounded by loving family. Born Sept. 14, 1941, he was raised in East Hampton, by parents Howard Cone and Irma (Pomeroy) Cone. On Dec. 28, 1962, he married Athena Dousis, the love of his life.

Don attended the University of Hartford before enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a VW4 Hurricane Hunter. He later spent 33 years as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, enjoying a career that involved adventure and travel across the world as he set up audio-visual systems.

Although he was very successful in, and engaged by, his career, most people know Don rather for all his volunteer work. He served for many years as the chairman of the East Lyme Veterans Council. Furthermore, he was a 50-year member and past commander of the American Legion Turner Tinker Post 128, as well as a former commander of the VFW Kari Hill Post 5849. Don has also been the East Lyme Democratic Town Chairman, worked on the East Lyme building committee, coached East Lyme Little League and Babe Ruth teams, and served as chairman of the East Lyme Tall Ship Celebration. As a great honor, the State of Connecticut General Assembly presented him with a Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the town of East Lyme and his tireless efforts on behalf of veterans. Donald was also a member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in New London, and of St. George Orthodox Church in Port Richey, Fla., where he was incredibly active and served fervidly on the Parish Council.

Don is survived by his wife Athena, as well as his son Donald Howard Cone of Adamsville, Md., his daughter Chrysanthe Moore and her husband Wayne of East Lyme, his grandchildren Evangeline and Colvert Moore of East Lyme, his grandchildren Donald and Alex Cone and their mother Bevenjie of Adamsville, Va., and his two sisters Lorraine Atwater and Janet McWilliams. He is predeceased by his parents, as well as his in-laws Leonidas and Lambrini Dousis, his sister-inlaw Avgerini Kontogouris, and his brother-in-law Nicholas Dousis.

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, at Fulton Theroux Funeral Service, 13 Lake Ave., Niantic. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 7, at St. Sophia Greek Hellenic Orthodox Church in New London, followed by a burial at Union Cemetery in Niantic.