Rev. Don Fado

1933 - 2025

Rev. Don Fado

December 8, 1933 - July 17, 2025

Sacramento, California - "Beloved" may be a word over-used in memorials to loved ones. In the case of the Reverend Don Fado of Sacramento, it truly applies to those who knew him as family, as friend, as pastor, and as a leader for social justice. Don loved people and loved hearing their stories. He lived his faith, not just working as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, but in his everyday life. To Don, all people are beloved children of God, equally entitled to be respected and loved.

Don grew up in Redding, California and earned his bachelor's degree at College of the Pacific, where he was student body president and where he met Jean, college opera star and his future wife. Don followed a call into ministry, earning a master's degree in divinity at Boston University School of Theology, a school known to focus on social activism.

He started his career as pastor at Sierra Vista UMC in Fresno, serving in several churches including Wesley UMC in Fresno and retiring from St. Mark's UMC in Sacramento. His commitment to social justice guided his personal and pastoral life. In 1999, defying the UMC's anti-gay rules, Don convened 95 active and retired UMC pastors to bless the holy union of two lesbian parishioners before a full house at the Sacramento Convention Center.

After retiring in 2001, Don segued into direct community activism. He enlisted others to create Family Promise of Sacramentoaimed at keeping unhoused families togetherand also served as a board member at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes.

Ministry and community service were just parts of Don's very full life, especially his 69-year partnership with Jean raising four children, one of whom followed him into ministry, and welcoming their spouses and offspring. He and Jean loved travel and led two dozen tours to six different continents, including 7 to the Holy Land. He said he could not have followed his life's path without Jean's support and wise counsel.

Don was considered one of the finest preachers in the UMCoften preaching without notes and always with an expansive view of God's love that came alive in his sermons. Even after retiring, he was a frequent guest preacher, delivering a sermon less than two weeks before his sudden passing at home at age 91. He was alive and active, full of warmth and humor and faith to his last days, and will be greatly missed.

Don is survived by Jean and four children, Sue Addington (Ron) of Sacramento, CA, Donna Fado Ivery (Hubert) of Richmond, CA, Patty Fado of Sacramento, CA, and David Fado (Kelly) of Arlington, VA, 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, two sisters, and innumerable friends, congregants, and community members.

Don's life will be celebrated Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Marks United Methodist Church in Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Family Promise of Sacramento and Sacramento Loaves and Fishes.