Donald Michaelson

Donald Michaelson died peacefully in his sleep on July 24, 2025, at the age of 85. Born in the Bronx on his father's birthday, Donald, who became developmentally disabled as a toddler, was adored by his parents and had a happy childhood. This included summers spent with his mother, father, and sister Ruth at his Aunt Anna's farm in Monticello in the Catskills and at Jones Beach on Long Island. Despite his challenges, Donald was a wiz at jigsaw puzzles, spending hours working on them while watching New York Yankees and Mets baseball games on TV.

While Donald was not able to attend traditional school, as a young adult, Donald learned how to take the city bus independently from his family home to the AHRC NYC Day Program in the Bronx, which helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain new life skills and explore their passions and interests through activities and support.

Donald lived a happy life with his parents. After their passing, Donald lived at the AHRC NYC Bronx and then Manhattan Dickson-Goodman community-based residences, where he made friends and was supported by a loving staff who became his second family.

His caregivers at Dickson-Goodman Residence described Donald as "charming", "a bright light with a great personality", and "a gem and pleasure to be around" who will be "forever missed". During the years at his residence, Donald explored new activities in the Dickson-Goodman Day Program, went on excursions around New York City, continued to watch and cheer on his beloved New York Yankees, and enthusiastically enjoyed many ice cream and cake birthday parties for his caregivers and friends. Always young at heart, Donald's favorite annual event was to celebrate his own 24th birthday.

Donald leaves behind his nieces Lisa Rubin-Johnson (Glenn) of Brookline, MA and Nancy Dana Smith (Dan) of Shelburne, VT, his grand-niece Jessica Smith of Richmond, VA, his four grand-nephews: Connor Johnson (Amy) of Walpole, MA, Austin Johnson (Sarah) of Chicago, IL, Zachary Smith of South Burlington, VT, and Griffin Smith of Shelburne, VT, and his great-niece Audrey Johnson of Walpole, MA. He is predeceased by his dear parents, Helen and Harris Michaelson, and by his beloved sister Ruth Rubin and brother-in-law Harold Rubin.

Donald also leaves behind his "second family"-the dedicated nurses and caregivers at AHRC NYC Dickson-Goodman Residence who took extraordinary care of Donald in his later years, both physically and by giving him a loving home, and his many friends at the Manhattan and Bronx residences, including his special friend Dee Dee.

A private burial took place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Albany Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Donald may be made to:

AHRC NYC for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: https://www.ahrcnycfoundation.org/donate/

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