Donald Post

1931 - 2021

Donald G. Post, 89

AUBURN - "Every Sunrise Is A Gift From God"

Donald G. Post, co-owner of the Hillcrest Farm and The Farmer's Daughter Garden Center, passed away peacefully on Sunday June 20, while surrounded by his family. He leaves his son Robert Post and wife Margaret; daughter, Cynthia Bertrand and husband Gary; daughter-in-law, Laurel (Johnson) Post; grandchildren Charles Post and wife Joan; Julia (Post) Quaglieri and husband Timothy; Stephanie Bertrand; John Bertrand; Steven Post; Jennifer (Post) Tang and husband Marcus; and great-grandchildren, James and Grace Post, and Patrick and Andrew Quaglieri. He leaves many loving nieces and nephews and extended family.

Don was predeceased by his brother Claude Post, Jr. and his wife, Eleanor. His son, Gary Post, passed in 2019. Sylvia Cutting Post, the love of his life and wife of 53 years, passed in 2006.

Don was born in 1931, in Butler, New Jersey, the son of Claude Post, Sr. and Mary (Brautigan) Post. He was raised in New Jersey, working in his father's electronics store and was a successful student athlete, excelling at track and field, including running the Boston Marathon. Don was involved in scouting while in high school, and achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout. He received a full scholarship to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and subsequently attended Harvard Business School. While attending WPI, his fraternity brother, Charles Cutting, introduced Don to his sister Sylvia. They were married at the Cutting family's dairy farm in Auburn in 1953.

Don spent nearly two decades leading Hillcrest Dairy's operations in Worcester. He subsequently had a successful career working as a sales and marketing executive for Sweetheart Plastics and Foster Grant.

After "retiring," he and Sylvia founded the Farmer's Daughter with their daughter Cynthia by initially selling produce grown on their farm. In the ensuing 40 years, he and his family grew the Farmer's Daughter to become a cherished and successful garden center and seasonal Christmas tree business. Don was known by his customers and employees for his warm welcomes, gregarious personality, dedication to his family business, and his passion for helping people enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature, staying actively involved until his passing.

Don participated in several community organizations serving as the President of the Rotary Clubs of Worcester and Auburn, where he made many enduring friendships, and as the President of the Mohegan Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He served the town of Auburn as a Planning Board member and as a Town Meeting member. He has been a member of several professional organizations including Massachusetts Flower Growers Association, Massachusetts

Nursery and Landscape Association, and Perennial Plant Association. He was a member of the

First Congregational Church of Auburn.

Don enjoyed traveling, reading and was a fan of Boston sports teams. He was fortunate to have spent over 40 years visiting his home-away-from-home on the north shore of Kauai, where he and Sylvia welcomed their family every year and hosted their famous "pupu parties" with family and many Kauai friends.

He worked tirelessly all his life, at his business until his death. His business was his passion, but his true love was his family. He looked forward to relaxing with family sharing stories with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Above all, Don will be remembered for his enduring love of his wife Sylvia, whom he tirelessly supported and cared for through their marriage with Type I diabetes. Don frequently said that "health is wealth," and he was right. We are all fortunate to have had the wealth of his health, support, leadership, laughter and love for the last 89 years.

Calling hours will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, June 25th, 2021, at the Britton - Wallace Funeral Home, 91 Central Street, Auburn, MA. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 26th, 2021, at the First Congregational Church, Auburn, MA. The family requests in lieu of flowers, to help Don and Sylvia continue their goal to find a cure for diabetes, memorial contributions be made to the Sylvia C. Post Research Fund, Joslin Diabetes Clinic, One Joslin Place, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02215. To leave a note of condolence for his family, or to share a fond memory of Don, please visit

www.brittonfuneralhomes.com