Obituary of Bruce T. Donald

Bruce passed on at home after a long courageous battle with cancer. He stayed as active as he could until his death, talking to family and friends moments before he passed on. He was a loving son, mate, father, grandfather, and uncle who gave his unconditional love to them all. He was always concerned for others, had a great sense of humor and an ability to express himself, mixed with his insightful wisdom from his life experiences and as a result has helped many. He was a forgiving and hard working man who had simple needs. He has been friends with Bill W. for over 20 years, working his spiritual program of personal growth to the best of his ability on a daily basis. He was born in St. Anthony's Hospital, Warwick, NY, and raised in Greenwood Lake, NY, where he attended elementary school, Monroe-Woodbury-Woodbury High School, graduated from Orange County Community College and Mercy College with a Degree in Finance. He worked in Orange County Division of Motor Vehicle until the mid 1980's, also owned Green Acres Landscaping Company. He then joined Allwaste Sanitation as an Account Executive for 20 years, then worked as a consultant for various waste management systems in the area. For the past 10 years he has been consultant for waste recycling in Orange County, Pike County, PA, and Sussex County, NJ. He lived in Lackawaxen, PA for the past 11 years, with his mate, until this past March when they came to Port Jervis, NY to be close to Bon Secour Hospital where he was being treated. He rests now with his loving parents: Thomas P. Donald and Doris Brown Donald, who predeceased him more than 20 years ago, and with his cherished sister, Kathleen Donald Fields, who recently passed in January 2013. All resided in Greenwood Lake, NY. His survivors, who so mourn the loss of his loving presence in their lives, are his beloved mate, Rae Ann Bender, who he lived with for 20 years; his cherished children, step-children, and grandchildren: son, Christopher Donald and wife, Nicole and young grandsons: Colin and Logan of Holt, MI, daughter, Kimberlee Donald and mate, Sam Meli and grandson, Keegan of Greenwood Lake, NY, son, Ryan Donald and wife, Megan, grandson, Gavin and granddaughters: Jenilee, Eva, and Rosa of Wurtsboro, NY; his former wife, Diane Bukovinsky of Wurtsboro, NY; stepdaughter, Sierra Lisa Bender of Lackawaxen PA and Naples FL; Joseph V. Bender and Suzie (deceased), his wife and dear friend and granddaughters: Eliza and Georgia of Sugar Loaf, NY; stepdaughter, Lauren Bender and granddaughters: Gianna, Carley, and Isabella of Ridgewood, NJ; stepson, Christian Bender and mate, Shauna Allegretti and grandsons: Jospeh Bender and Sergio Allegretti of Totowa, NJ; Elizabeth and Francis Nead, loving parents-in-law of Metuchen, NJ; Marco Nead, loving brother-in-law and wife, Lorina of Edison, NJ; Williams Fields, brother-in-law and husband of cherished sister, Kathleen Donald Fields (deceased); niece, Joan Fields of Greenwood Lake, NY; niece, Dawn Fields Graham and husband, Paul Graham and their children: Daniel, Shaun, Joseph, and Kathleen; nephew, Bill Fields of Tuxedo, NY and Thomas Fields of Greenwood Lake, NY and their sons; Uncle Marcellus Brown and his wife, Aunt Ella of Greenwood Lake, NY; his many family and friends who he valued and you know who you are! Services will be held Wednesday July 24th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Strong Basile Funeral Home, 4 Oak St., Greenwood Lake, NY. A Celebration of Life will begin at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for Sponsor's Corner Recovery House in Port Jervis, NY, for the Bruce T. Donald Memorial Scholarship Fund - www.sponserscorner.com Arrangements are by Strong Basile Funeral Home, 845-477-8240 or www.ocfuneralhomes.com