Donald A. Piccinini

LITTLE FALLS - Donald Anthony Piccinini died following a short illness on February 22, 2025.
Donald was born in Little Falls, NY in 1935 to Domenick Piccinini and Christine (Discenza) Piccinini and spent his life raising his family in Little Falls. Donald leaves behind his childhood sweetheart and wife of 57 years, Shirley (MacCammon) Piccinini, daughter Lisa Fahy and husband Vinny of Claremorris, Ireland, son James Piccinini and wife Kristin Stainbrook of Delmar, NY, two cherished grandchildren Violet Piccinini and Vince Piccinini also of Delmar and numerous nieces and nephews spread nationwide.
He is predeceased by his infant daughter Sharon, aunt Lena Discenza (Little Falls), brother Domenick (Richboro, PA) and sisters Gloria Irving (Syracuse, NY) and Louise Biamonte (Rome, NY).
Donald graduated from Little Falls High School and studied Electrical Technology at Mohawk Valley Technical Institute. Upon graduation he was immediately recruited into the United States Army where he proudly served in Spokane Washington as a Nike Ajax Missile Fire Control Mechanic defending our Northwest border during the Cold War. While serving he found plenty of time to play for the U.S. Army Volleyball Team frequently traveling the west coast for tournaments.
Donald then spent years at General Electric in Utica as an Engineering Specialist designing, testing, and troubleshooting radar systems and missile guidance systems. In 1971 Donald began to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a math teacher. After a short assignment teaching shop class, Donald became a math teacher at Foley Middle School in Herkimer, NY. Throughout his teaching career Donald dabbled in teaching computer science, physical science and reading but his real joy, teaching math, was his primary focus until retirement in 1997. Throughout his life and in retirement Donald had a fondness for social and leisure activities spending his free time bowling, golfing, playing bocce, enjoying friendly poker games and competing in casino blackjack tournaments. Donald was a friend, a helper, and a teacher to those he spent his life with, he'll be missed by all.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., from the Enea Family Funeral Home, 24 West Monroe Street, in Little Falls, New York and at 11:00 a.m., at Holy Family Parish Church, corner of East Main & John Streets, Little Falls, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will take place later this spring with military honors at St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, New York.
Relatives and friends are invited to join the family at a calling hour, at the funeral home, on West Monroe Street, Thursday morning, prior to the services, from 9:00 a.m., until 10:30 a.m. and join us at the Mass and luncheon to follow.
Arrangements are in the care of Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 823-2424.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Donald's memory to the Herkimer County Humane Society, 514 State Route 5S, Mohawk, New York, 13407, www.herkimerhumanesociety.org.
This tribute will be shared online at www.eneafamily.com. It will be published in the Herkimer Times-Telegram newspaper on Wednesday of this week.