Donald R. Chambers

Donald R. Chambers passed away on November 5, 2023 at the age of 100. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Virginia Doane Chambers, after 71 years of marriage. Donald and his family were longtime residents of Plandome, N.Y. and summer residents of Chatham on Cape Cod. Donald was born in New Jersey in 1923. His family moved to Brooklyn and later to Floral Park, Long Island where Donald grew up. He attended John Lewis Childs elementary school and graduated from Sewanhaka High School in 1941. His college days at Johns Hopkins University were interrupted by his three years of military service in the United States Army.

After his military service he attended Colgate University and in 1947, he married Virginia Doane, also from Floral Park and a former high school classmate. They resided on campus at Colgate during Donald’s senior year. He graduated from Colgate in 1948 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in economics. He then began a long career in the telephone business beginning in Buffalo, N.Y. with the New York Telephone Company. In his career he served many assignments throughout upstate N.Y. and New York City. As his career progressed, he became General Manager of Operator Services and later served on the ATT Divestiture Committee. Following the ATT divestiture, Donald transferred to the new ATT Company and became General Manager Operator Services for ATT’s Eastern Area.

After retirement Donald did pro-bono work for the National Executive Service Corp. dedicated to providing administrative assistance to the business and municipal community. He was a past president of the Manhasset United Fund and served many years on the Plandome Board of Zoning Appeals. He was also a past deacon and trustee of the Congregational Church of Manhasset. In his leisure time he enjoyed skiing with his family. He also enjoyed golfing and sailing at his family home in Chatham on Cape Cod. He was a longtime member of Manhasset Bay Yacht Club and Eastward Ho! Country Club in Chatham, Mass.

Surviving Donald are his two sons, Brooke and wife Mary, Craig and wife Nancy. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Andrew and wife Christine, Kelsey Mount and husband Hoy, Alexandra Anderson and husband Matt, and two great grandchildren, Lynden Mount and Jack Anderson.

A memorial service is being planned.