DONALD VARGA

1926 - 2021

VARGA, Donald George

On Saturday, January 9th, after a long, rich life, Donald George Varga passed away from Covid-19. A resident and active member of the Dayton community for more than 65 years, Don was born May

11th, 1926, in Newton, Massachusetts, to Charles and Clara Varga – recent immigrants from Europe. Don was raised in Philadelphia, served in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII and later graduated from Penn State University.

He found his calling in working with community centers and youth which eventually led him to meeting Virginia (Ginny) MacMillan (Dayton, OH) in 1955, marrying and raising two children. Together, Don and Ginny's passion for working with young people led them to establish and run Gloria Dei School, the first Montessori school in the Dayton area, which continues to provide affordable Montessori education to this day. Don and Ginny taught, coached sports and managed the school for many years and in the process touched the lives of thousands of children and families in the Dayton area.

Following his retirement from the school, Don volunteered in the community for years, delivering meals to seniors, and helping seniors to register for courses at Sinclair College. He could also be found playing his favorite sports, tennis and golf, and enjoyed participating in the Dayton Senior Olympics.

Don's dedication to the school and his family was appreciated by all who knew him along with his kindness, patience, and quiet morality. He will forever be missed deeply by his wife, Virginia Varga, his daughter, Michelle (Varga) Conrad

(Vandalia, OH), son-in-law, Jon Conrad, son, Don Varga Jr. (Portland, OR), daughter-in-law, Elise Harmon Varga, his brother, Frank Varga (Bluffton, SC), his three adoring grandsons, Dylan Varga, Benjamin Conrad and Ethan Varga and many other dear family and friends.

Lifelong devout Catholics, Don and Ginny have been members of multiple Catholic parishes in the Dayton area, including St. Agnes, St. Christopher, and Precious Blood.

Due to complexities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, arrangements for a funeral mass and celebration of Don's life have been postponed until such time that they can be safely conducted.

Those wishing to remember Don through a charitable act are encouraged to donate to the Dayton Foundation Covid

Relief Fund. daytonfoundation.org fund 1652 https://www.daytonfoundation.org/ccgift.html?fund=COVID_ 9_Response_Fund_for_Greater_Dayton_1652