Donald R. Sutherland

Donald R. Sutherland VIRGINIA BEACH - Donald R. Sutherland, 91, died March 6, 2009, in Virginia Beach where he made his home since 2006 after many years of residence in Florida and several Connecticut communities. He was a native of Haverhill, Mass., where he was born Nov. 13, 1917, to D. Frank and Florence (Ramsey) Sutherland. Surviving are his wife, Jean (Petersen), to whom he was married for 33 years. He was predeceased by his first wife, Anna (Best), to whom he was married for 28 years. He is survived by two sons, Robert of Virginia Beach and David (and wife Re Kerrigan) of Glastonbury, Conn.; four stepchildren, Patricia Jessop of New Orleans, Peter Jessop (and wife Reenie Humpage) of Amherst, Mass., Karen Jessop of Gray Summit, Mo., and Kathy Whitehead (and husband the Rev. Chris Whitehead) of Mansfield, Ohio; six grandchildren, Anna Nicole Sutherland-Brooks (and husband Gary Brooks) and Jennifer Raines (and husband Christopher Raines) of Virginia Beach, Arielle Jessop-Humpage of Queens, N.Y., Jesse Whitehead and Dorothy Whitehead of Eugene, Ore., and Lucas Sutherland of Glastonbury, Conn. His granddaughter, Jennifer, is three months from presenting Don with what would have been the apples of his eye - twin great-grandchildren. Don served for four years in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He retired in 1975 after a 35-year career with the U.S. government, mostly with the Social Security Administration in several New England cities, completing his career as district manager of the SSA office in Torrington, Conn. After he retired, Don and his wife traveled extensively in this country, Canada and Europe, and much of this was combined with his deep interest in genealogy and family history. He belonged to many genealogical and family societies and was a life member of the Clan Sutherland Society in Scotland. Don was a passionate fan of jazz and classical music, baseball, history and politics and good conversation. His passion, thoughtfulness, humor and devotion to fairness touched so many who were privileged to know him. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, 1264 Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach. Following the service, friends are invited to join the family for a celebration of Don's life at the Lesner Inn, 3319 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451.