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Donald Suhr Obituary
"Captain Don"
Greece: Don passed away suddenly in his home at the age of 84 on November 14, 2007, in the presence of his son & daughter-in-law. Born in Rochester on November 11, 1923 he was the son of Arthur & Edith Suhr. A family of five, his twin dying in childbirth, his brother Jerry died at 13. His two sisters, Kay & Betty have both pre-deceased him as well. As a young man, he had many jobs, including cleaning industrial boilers with his father during the Depression. He attended Edison Tech, but never finished high school so that he could work to support his family. He worked on the railroad for a while, as well as helping his uncle Albert with his bakery, with his cousins. He was drafted into the Army during WWII, and was stationed on Adak in the Aleutian Islands, was a Staff Sergeant and became a "Flying Sergeant" in the Army Air Corps, where he spent free time drawing, as he was an excellent artist.
On returning from the war, he went to work for Kodak, slitting film for military and civilian cameras. He became interested in the water, and was an excellent fisherman. He bought a sailboat, the Wing & Wing, leasing a single dock from the NY Central Railroad. Over time he kept adding docks and leasing land as more boaters joined him. He left Kodak after 20 years, and in 1965 he bought a parcel of land on the west bank of the Genesee River and named it the "Riverview Yacht Basin", which became his passion, pleasure and life. Don's dream was to bring a cruise ship to Rochester, and in 1985 he made that dream a reality. He earned his 100-ton Captain's license studying late into the night, which complimented his private plane operator's license. He operated the "Spirit of Rochester" for lunch & dinner cruises as well as trips to Canada, and in 2001 the "Spirit" appeared in the John Mellencamp film, "After Image".
He is survived by his son, Donald Suhr Jr. "Skip", Don Jr's wife Tammy, his former wife and friend, Berdena Suhr Sohm & his cousins Ken, Frank, Carl, Paul & many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed.
Friends may call Monday, 4 to 7 PM. Military Service 6:30pm.
THOMAS FUNERAL CHAPELS, INC.
4545 LAKE AVE., 663-3837
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Donald Suhr
Sponsored by Don "Skip" Suhr, Tammy (Pond) Suhr & Berdena (Fox/Suhr) Sohm.
Don Suhr Jr
November 11, 2016
Happy Birthday, dad.
Miss you.
Cathy Hess
May 19, 2015
Memories! We think of him often as the years pass so quickly. Hello Skip we all miss your dad and Lake Ontario.
Jim & Cathy Hess
Don (Skip) Suhr Jr
November 11, 2014
Another year, Dad. Went so fast. Happy Birthday.
Don "Skip" Suhr
November 11, 2013
Happy 90th, Dad. I could really use your advice some days.
Don Suhr
November 11, 2012
Another year, Dad. They really do start to go so quick. Miss you.
Don (Skip) Suhr Jr
November 11, 2011
Happy Birthday Dad. This would have been a great year to celebrate, 11/11/11. We miss you.
December 11, 2010
We are sorry for your loss. Don was a wonderful person.
I went to work at Riverview Yacht Basin around 1977-1978 as a bookkeeper and helped him get his SBA funds and with boat sales & records. He was very good to my husband and I.
I have many good memories of Don and Skipper, his son. Skipper was very young. Everything there reminded me of our marina at Genesee Valey Park even his old German Shepard. We lost touch after he left the river.
Jim & Cathy Hess Kingwood, TX
Mr & Mrs. Robert Burke
November 20, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
michele spencer
November 19, 2007
I am deeply sadden.. my prayers our with your family. Michele Spencer
Robert Stifter
November 18, 2007
It is with great sadness that we are sending this. I (Bob) have known and traveled with Don over the past 40 years and considered him a good friend.
Our sympathy to Skipper, Tammy and Bernie.
Love Bob and Joanne Stifter
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