Donald R. Mathews 89 of South Yarmouth and formerly of Natick died Saturday September 11, 2021 at his home in South Yarmouth.

He was the loving husband of Janet M (Hennessy) Mathews. They had been married for over 60 years.

Born, raised and educated in Natick, Donald was the beloved son of the late Charles L. and Rosanna (Morris) Mathews. He was a 1950 grad of Natick High School where he played ice hockey and worked in student government. He followed Natick High sports right up to the present. Don remained very close to several of his childhood friends and his cousins in Natick. He was fond of remembering that he walked to school every day for 12 years with his cousin, Joanne, of Natick. His Natick roots and friendships run deep.

After high school, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served proudly in North Africa during the Korean War. His fondest service memories were leaves in Europe and playing inter-branch football, on base, versus the Army and Marine football clubs. While stationed overseas in 1953 he received word that his oldest brother, Wally, had been killed while on duty as a Massachusetts State Trooper. With the help of then Massachusetts Senator, John F. Kennedy, Don was able to gain leave and fly home on a cargo plane, unfortunately arriving too late for the services. A fact that haunted him for decades. He flew back to Africa a day later.

After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1954, Don maintained some odd jobs while considering a career including transporting dynamite and working in the old Carling Brewery in Framingham. A family friend approached him with the idea of following in his grandfather’s, father’s, and brother’s footsteps as a policeman. Don was assigned to the barracks in South Yarmouth of the Massachusetts State Police not long after his graduation from the police academy. He moved his then young family to the Cape in 1964, where he and his wife Janet remain. Twenty-two years later he retired from the State Police with Trooper badge #1.

Don was a gentle and humble man with a great sense of humor and gift for gab while easily establishing trust and rapport with just about anyone. He had his Mom’s Irish smiling eyes. He was a well admired State Trooper and cared deeply for his fellow troopers and officers and he was a notorious prankster at the barracks with his coworkers. As retirement was mandatory, back then, at age 50 for troopers, he missed the job and his police brothers for the rest of his waking days. Don was also a fine finish carpenter and thought maybe that was his calling before he became a trooper.

Don was active in Yarmouth-Dennis Youth Hockey for many years, and he played in competitive men’s league hockey at the former Kennedy Memorial Rink and at the former Cape Cod Coliseum. Don also coached a bit, and was a penalty box timekeeper for Cape Cod Cubs professional hockey games for several years. Don loved ice hockey and was an avid Bruins fan. He hosted a weekly poker game in the basement of his home with a core group of guys for over 50 years. This was a blue-collar table roster of policemen, plumbers, mechanics, and fishermen. They played every week until there were not enough guys left to fill the table. The stakes were low but the fellowship, conversation and food were top shelf. He loved the beach where he was like the pied piper in the water with young kids. They swarmed him to jump off his shoulders or be tucked in a ball and to be heaved in the air. He held unofficial swimming lessons with any kid that wanted or needed them and could swim or float on his back better and longer than most sea mammals. He was also a sharp dressed gentleman with a kind and gentle soul that had a soft spot for any child that had less than he or his own kids had.

Don’s real true loves in life were his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchild. Don had a big heart when it came to his nieces and nephews and he cherished his time with them and them with him. He loved playing sports in the yard, making plastic model cars, building tree forts, watching movies including packing the kids in the station wagon at the Yarmouth Drive-In, going to their hockey, football and soccer games, track meets, choir recitals, and school plays right through their high school and college years. He was a constant in the stands at rinks, fields, and auditoriums cheering their children and grandchildren on. In a nutshell Don was the epitome of a great American Dad. He was a true fighter and fought long and hard right to the end against the cancer that ravaged his body. He didn’t want to leave the side of his beautiful wife, as they were best friends constant companions. Don will be deeply missed by Janet, his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by two sons, Timothy Mathews and his wife, Jennifer of Mattapoisett and Michael Mathews and his wife, Suzanne of West Yarmouth; two daughters, Mary Susan Passaro of Winthrop and Jill Hedin and her husband, David of South Yarmouth; eight grandchildren, Timothy, Casey, Zachary, Shane and Jessica Mathews, Nicholas and Daniel Passaro, and Nicole Caron; one great grandchild, Charles Caron; and many nieces, nephews and their spouses. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son-in-law, Dominic Passaro, four siblings, Frances Mathews, Charles L. Mathews, Jr., Wallace E Mathews, and Arthur L. Mathews, and a niece, Charlene Mathews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday September 20 in St. Pius Tenth Church, Station Ave, South Yarmouth.

Interment will follow in Chandler Gray Cemetery, 161 Old Mill Way, West Yarmouth.

Visiting hours will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday September 19 in the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 255 Independence Dr., Hyannis, MA 02601 or to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215.

I have so many wonderful and fond memories of Don - working with him at Pro Sports watching DY hockey games - watching Jill at track meets He was such a supportive and positive person. We shared many laughs together . A true gentleman with a huge heart ❤️ Don will never be forgotten - he left a great legacy - a true Role model for me Rest In Peace ❤️

A beautiful obituary for a beautiful man. We worked together when I was in the local D A's office here on the Cape. A man of intelligence, integrity, and kindness... a wonderful combination. My sincere condolences to his family

What an incredible tribute a to anextraordinary man. My love to you all.