Donald Clarke Watson

WATSON, Donald Clarke Died March 8th, at age 91, surrounded by his wife of 67 years, Rosita (Richmond) Watson, and his children. He lived at Fox Hill Village, Westwood, Mass. He was the son of Mary (Burgess) and Donald C. Watson. Don was a graduate of Milton Academy and Harvard College, Class of 1940. Following graduation he enlisted in the Army and spent six months defending Portsmouth Harbor. As he felt that our country would soon be at war, and it was still peacetime, he managed to get himself out of the Army and into the Navy's flight training program in Jacksonville, Florida. When he received his commission, he returned to Needham and he and Rosita were married. Don spent two years teaching flying for the Navy in Livermore, California, and then, after further training, spent another year in the Pacific. After the war, Don and Rosita settled in Dedham, where they raised their four children. Don spent his entire working life at the First National Bank of Boston. He also served on various Boards, including that of the Wentworth Institute, which had been founded by his grandfather. He was a member of the Somerset Club, the Dedham Country and Polo Club, the A.D. Club at Harvard, and the Cruising Club of America. Don's passion was "messing about in boats," which he was lucky enough to do for his entire life. He sailed in several Bermuda Races and Halifax Races, and took many cruises with family and friends between Buzzards Bay and Newfoundland. After retiring in 1980, he and Rosita became live-aboards for the better part of six years. It was a wonderful experience. Besides his wife, Don leaves his daughter Pamela W. Sebastian and her husband John, of San Francisco, and their son James; Arthur R. Watson, and his wife Carol, of Washington, D.C., and their daughters Rebeccah and Sarah; Donald C. Watson III and his wife, Ellen, of South Dartmouth, Mass., their son Nathaniel and daughter Caroline; and Nathaniel F. Watson, of Montreal, Canada. His oldest grandson, Michael Sebastian, died in 1999. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Church, 45 Court St., Dedham, on Saturday, March 20th, at 11:00 am. Donations in Don's memory may be made to St. Paul's Church.