Wetzel, Donald J
Donald J. Wetzel, 95, of Newington, CT passed away peacefully at home on June 8, 2022 accompanied by his loving daughter Marsha. He is survived by his daughters, Denise J. Wetzel of Newington and Marsha L. Wetzel of Pittsford, NY. He is now reunited with Jean H. (Mathews) Wetzel, his deceased wife of 64 and half years.
Donald was born in New Britain, CT on May 31, 1927 to the late Gladys Spirtt (formerly Wetzel, nee Johnson from Sweden) and Henry J. Wetzel. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Joy Spirtt of Cheshire, CT and in-laws, Michael B. and Tsafi Mathews of Upper Montclair, NJ and Wendy Mathews of England, wife of John A. Mathews now deceased. Donald also left behind eight nieces and nephews and their children. Donald graduated from the American School for the Deaf (ASD) of West Hartford, CT in 1945 and went to the Gallaudet University of DC in 1946 - 1947. He earned an A.S. degree in 1998 at the Northwestern Community College (NWCC) of Winsted, CT and a B.S. degree in History at the Central Connecticut State University in 2005. He taught at the ASD in 1966-1968 before working at the Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company in Hartford, CT as a computer programmer for +20 years. He was a leader in the Connecticut Deaf Community serving as President of the Lutheran Church for the
Deaf, Hartford CT for +8 years and President of the Connecticut Deaf Senior Citizens organization located in Newington, CT for six years and Vice President for
5 years. He was active on the Connecticut Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf as Vice President for 5 years as well as the Northwestern Community College Advisory Council for 4 years.
Donald was an accomplished athlete at the American School for the Deaf in football, basketball & track. He was a member of the Gallaudet University track team for one year. He competed in the 1953 World Games for the Deaf (WGD) now named Deaflympics in Brussels, Belgium in basketball, track & tennis and 1963 WGD in Washington, DC in tennis. Despite the French transportation strike, his team won a bronze medal in the 1953 WGD playing basketball. He received the American School for the Deaf Alumni Association's Hall of Fame Excellence award in Sports (Badminton and Deaflympics/World Games for the Deaf) in 2017. He enjoyed playing badminton for the Newington Badminton Club and won numerous medals at the Connecticut Senior Citizens State Games playing badminton.
Donald enjoyed traveling around the world mostly on cruises and the United States with his wife, watching sports (UConn WBB), and reading the newspapers and comics. A true leader, devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend to many, he will be missed by the Connecticut Deaf Seniors Community and all who knew him.
Donald was buried on June 13, 2022 at the West Meadows Cemetery of Newington, CT next to his wife. Life Celebrations of Donald J. Wetzel and Jean M. Wetzel will be held at a later time.
Please sign guestbook at courant.com/obituaries