Donald Garon

Donald Lucien Garon, 83, died Saturday, September 29, 2018, at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. He was born on November 5, 1934, in Nashua, NH, the son of Adelard Garon and Eva Bleau Garon.

Donald attended, the Seminary in Enfield, NH, attended LaSalette College in Attleboro, MA and then received his graduate, Master's Degree at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. He also studied in the USA, Canada, France, Costa Rica and Mexico. In his younger years Don was a Youth counselor at Middlesex County Training School in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA. He was the district Administrator for 52 mission schools in Benin, Program Director for Catholic Relief Services in Rwanda, Assistant Program Director for Institute of Modern Languages in Raytheon in their English language program, at the Saudi Arabian Air Defense School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabis. His work there led him to the position of Director of Saudi Arabian Airlines Language Training Center in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Don also worked helping the priests in different countries teaching people how to read, write and speak English. He taught with books, chalk boards, writings and when those were not available he wrote in the sand with a stick to provide visual learning tools to his students. Sometimes his pay was as low at $15.00 US a month, when he in fact did get paid beyond his room and board.

His teaching capabilities took him from secondary and college teacher of English as a Second Language to Zaire, Benin, USA, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Philippines, and Costa Rica. He taught adult students for Larsen & Neilsen Saudia Arabia, Ltd. in Jeddah and Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also teaching English as a second language in Jose, Costa Rica after having taught the same at Mont de LaSalle Secondary School in Laval, Quebec, Canada. Donald also lectured to adults on the Silva Method of stress control. In Zaire, he taught at college at the Universite St. Jerome in Lubumbashi. There is no doubt that Don loved to teach.

He was a kind and generous man, who always found enough to share with anyone in need. He shared his home, his food and his life with others in a most unselfish way. He set an example for many as to the good that one person can provide and help others maintain hope in humanity and faith in God. He never uttered a discouraging word or felt that anyone was unworthy of kindness and love.

Donald studied the body and muscles hoping to further serve people who were in pain by offering massage therapy services through a business he ran for a few years in Fort Myers, Florida. Always looking to better the lives of everyone he met, he later moved back to New Hampshire and worked as an overnight awake care giver in Massachusetts. His life lead him to travel to his brother Bob's home in the Philippines, where he worked for a short time helping to heal those with substance abuse issues. Upon his semi-retirement, Donald read and continued to tutor those who wanted to learn other languages. He worked with some amazing young children teaching them French and teaching about the French customs he grew up knowing so well.

Donald loved reading and studying history and philosophy. One would often see him with his eyes close to the printed page as he had difficulty seeing the small print, but that did not stop his quest to learn from the printed word what he could not learn from life experiences. He said he believed everyday was to be celebrated. He was intuitive and enjoyed praying and giving toasts and short speeches with encouraging dialect, often providing a lesson within his presentations. He truly was a man of God and has more than earned his way to heaven. He also liked to tell jokes and treat others to his wonderful sense of humor.

Donald was predeceased by his sister Delores O. Scarff and her husband Merritt Scarff of Florida.

Survived by his brother Robert Garon and wife Emerita Garon of the Philippines, and his brother Richard G. Garon and wife Elizabeth A. Garon of Auburn, NH.

Donald also had nieces: Lesley Lemay, Vanessa Vandevoort, Alexandra Manosa, Tiffany Perkins, Paula Lachance; nephews: Robert Scarff, Richard D. Garon, Michael J. Garon, Matthew Garon, Paul Lachance. He also had great nieces: Erica Scarff, Tori Lemay, Kaylen Garon, Lara Manõsa, Gabriel Vandervoort, Emily Jobin and Stephanie Mahns, and great nephews: Robby Scarff, Zachary Lemay, Nicholas Garon, Christopher Garon, Alec Garon, Matthew Vandervoort, Noah Manõsa, and Evan Mahns.

SERVICES: His Memorial Gathering will be held in the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., on Friday, October 5, 2018, from 4:00 to 7:00P.M. with A Celebration of Life at 6:00P.M. A Catholic Mass will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 9:30A.M. at St. Marie's Church on 378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester, NH. Interment will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

Those who wish may make a memorial contribution to the LaSalette Missionary Association, 947 Park Street, Attleboro, MA, 02703 MA or the Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609.