A. DONALD SLOTKIN

SLOTKIN--A. Donald. 84, of Jupiter, FL and Bloomfield Hills, MI, died on March 16, 2021. Don always looked for - and found - the bright side of life. It was everything from his mantra to the name of his pontoon boat at the family cottage in Michigan. He wore mostly yellow shirts and ate off of mostly yellow plates because yellow is the color of the bright side. And that's the place Don called home. As grandson to Hygrade founder Samuel Slotkin, Don was born a meat man. He became an industry leader in his own right as President of Crown Packing and Swift and CEO of John Morrell. But Don wasn't just a meat man, he was a true Renaissance man. He was a concert pianist as a child, gifted with perfect pitch. Later in life, he wrote and composed four albums of music inspired by songs from the 1940s and the 1950s. His most recent album called "Before" was produced during the pandemic. In that dark time, the songs were written to remind us all of how beautiful life can be. Don has been a mentor to hundreds of people over the years and it was one of his greatest joys. He always made time for his mentees who relied on him for guidance and had faith in his wisdom. In the words of one of Don's mentees, "Don gave me life-changing advice." These were some of Don's happiest moments: Nothing gave him greater pleasure than giving back. Don's impact extended to the charitable arena. Don was chairman of Gleaners Food Bank in the 1990s and his charitable chef d'oeuvre was his immense contribution to his alma mater Cranbrook's music department. Don believed that Cranbrook should be known for its music program, so he began with a donation of Steinway pianos. From there, Don endowed the Don Slotkin Music Scholarship Program that offers full tuition to deserving musicians from around the country and the world. To date, nearly 25 "Slotkin Scholars" have benefited from Don's generosity, helping change the trajectory of Cranbrook's Music program through his love of school and music. Don was also a great athlete, excelling in baseball as Captain at Cranbrook and hustling on the tennis court three times a week into his 84th year. Don was a proud graduate of Harvard though he always pointed out that he was far from the smartest in his class. Instead, he took great pride in the fact that few in his class worked harder than he did. One of Don's greatest gifts was his ability to connect with an incredible array of amazing people. He created meaningful connections from Grayling, MI down to Jupiter, FL and many, many places in between - most of which lasted for decades. Don was the consummate family man. He was proudest of his three boys, cared about every detail of their lives - big and small - and invested in them every day. From coaching little league to giving life advice that was worth its weight in gold, a son couldn't ask for a greater father. He was - and will continue to be - their rock. Don's love for his wife Edie had no ceiling or boundaries. From writing and singing songs together to traveling the world "a deux," their love never stopped growing. It was a perfectly reciprocal love. Don protected Edie. Edie protected Don. They were each other's rock. Nothing brought him greater happiness than to bring joy to his family. Playing piano to his family after dinner was one of those primary joys. Countless hours have been spent listening to Papa playing from his vast array of songs. What a gift he gave us. Last but not least is Don's smile, his sense of humor and his playful nature. He lit up the world and every one of his friends and family with his wit and the twinkle in his eye. We love you Don! Don is survived by his wife, Edie Slotkin; sons and daughters- in-law, Douglas and Susan Slotkin, Steven and Elisabeth Slotkin, and Louis Robert Slotkin; Edie's children, Jim and Elyse Mittenthal, Bob Mittenthal and Hilarie Sheets, and Jan and David Rosen; grandchildren, Sam Slotkin, Mira Slotkin, Melanie Slotkin, Matthew Rosen, Allie Rosen, Paige Mittenthal, Sam Mittenthal, Owen Mittenthal, and Charlotte Mittenthal; great-grandchild, Xander Lowery; brothers and sisters, Curt and Carole Slotkin, Todd and Judy Slotkin, Pamela Slotkin, and Susie and Jack Louiso. He is also survived by his former wife, Lorraine Marks, many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, the treasured Slotkin, Ross, and Walsey families, dear friends, and his faithful companion, Maizie. Don was the loving brother of the late Mitchell Slotkin, the devoted son of the late Hugo and the late Babette Slotkin, and the proud grandfather of the late Katie Slotkin. Private family services are 1pm, Sunday, March 21, 2021. Services by The Ira Kaufman Chapel. 248-569-0020. irakaufman.com