Obituary of Donald Staff

Staff, Donald A. Sr. of Newport RI, passed away suddenly at Rhode Island Hospital, Sunday, April 25th, surrounded by family and friends. Mr. Staff was 75 years old. Born and raised in Totowa, NJ he resided in Wyckoff, NJ for thirty three years before relocating to Newport, RI in 1996. Mr. Staff was predeceased by his beloved wife, Jacqueline Ann Draney, in 1982. Mr. Staff graduated from St. Joseph High School in Paterson, NJ and went on to attend Saint Bonaventure University, where he earned a BS degree in Organic Chemistry. He spent a dedicated and distinguished career in the chemical industry from his beginnings as a research chemist to senior executive management. Mr. Staff was employed by Tenneco Chemicals, Inc., Givaudan Corporation and an executive with Great Lakes Chemical Corporation prior to founding his own corporation, Chemstaff, Inc. in 1985. He was active in various trade associations and societies approaching a fifty year membership in the American Chemical Society. In addition, he served in the United States Army and Army Reserve achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. Donald Staff was known for his dedication and loyalty to Salve Regina University in Newport, RI where he served for many years as a member of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Mr. Staff also served as a Governor on the Newport Health Care Corporation and Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. Mr. Staff is survived by his three children, Donald A. Staff, Jr. who resides with his wife Janet in Mansfield, MA, Elizabeth A. Staff of Ramsey, NJ , and Michael A. Staff and his wife Colleen of Oradell, NJ. He was also the proud Grandfather of four grandchildren, Katherine, Caroline, Thomas and Jack. Donald is also survived by a sister and her husband, Marilyn & Edward Dowling of Cocoa Beach, FL. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Salve Regina University at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, in Newport, RI. Friends and family are invited to a viewing at Vander Plaat Funeral Home, (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, in Wyckoff, NJ on Thursday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm, and also a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Elizabeth RC Church, Wyckoff, NJ on Friday at 10:00 am. Interment will be in Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made to the Donald A. Staff, Sr. Scholarship Fund at Salve Regina University, Development Office, 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.