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Donald Henderson Obituary

HENDERSON, Donald M. 86, died May 13, 2011 at home in St. Petersburg of complications from Leukemia. In WWII he served in the U.S. Army as a motorcycle courier and MP in North Africa and as the head of the MP motor pool garage in occupied Rome. He had a successful Triumph-BMW-Yamaha dealership in Detroit for thirty years. He was a Michigan state champion ice racer and flat tracker. In 1980 he moved to St. Petersburg and became a sailor, yacht captain, and rigger. He is survived by 4 children: Joni, Don (Jill), Gary, and Andy; 3 grandchildren: Matthew, Bridget and Heidi Witt;4 great-grandchildren. Don is loved by friends and family around the world. Captain Don's ashes will be scattered, as he wished, in the Gulf by the Neptune Society. The family asks friends who wish to remember Don to make donations to the Suncoast Hospice. A celebration of Don's life will be scheduled later.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tampa Bay Times on May 17, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Henderson

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Maureen

September 7, 2024

Years and years he and my dad Frank Sweeney best buddies motorcycles ... boating ... racing in Daytona. So very sad

Bill Tausch

June 2, 2011

To Don's family and friends, I'm sorry for your loss. Don was our boss at the motorcycle shop in the late 1970's and we all (Gary, Griz, Nancy, Mark, Bert and countless others) loved him and looked up to him. He was a good leader and great guy. The picture you selected for the guest book is perfect - that's Don even though I hadn't seen him for 30 years. I hope and pray his time in Florida was happy and full of blessings. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Jim & Judy Dryer

May 18, 2011

Don, We miss you and your brother terribly. Save me a place in the "bilge" in the sky.
Thank you for being our friend; enough said.
Love,
Jim & Judy

Glenn Saraydar

May 18, 2011

Joni and Family
Losing a father that is wonderful person makes it harder to bear right now. But it also evolves into wonderful memories that keep them with you in spirit, a blessing that not many get to enjoy. Here’s wishing Captain Don fair winds and following seas. The Saraydar Family

Glenn Saraydar

May 18, 2011

Joni and family

Losing a father that is wonderful person makes it harder to bear right now. But it also evolves into wonderful memories that keep him with you in spirit always. Here’s wishing "Captain Don" fair winds and following seas. The Saraydar Family.

Andrea Henderson

May 18, 2011

Uncle Don, You will be missed very much by so many. I still remember going for a ride on the back of your fancy BMW bike many years ago, and hitting the race trace on snowmobiles at the local fair grounds late at night with you and my Dad. I always loved when you came to visit, because you could loosen my conservative Dad up like no one else could. Prayers to your family, Love, Andrea

Donna Costigan

May 18, 2011

Joni, we wish you and your family peace and laughter, which will help the healing. Your dad will live on through family and friends. He certainly made a lot of memories for all of you.
Love,
Michael and Donna

May 18, 2011

Dad, Im sorry to let you go,you are going to be missed so much ,I will always be thinking of you and all the wonderful things you did for me and the wonderful life we had together. Love Joni

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