Donald Greydon Piper Obituary (1935

NEWPORT & GAINESVILLE, FL - Donald Greydon Piper, 75, died in Gainesville, Florida. He was born October 21, 1935 in Newport, a son of Quentin and Bernice (Newton) Piper. He grew up in Dexter and Orono, graduating from Orono High School in 1954. He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Maine, where he was a brother at Phi Eta Kappa fraternity. Don served as an intelligence specialist in the U.S. Army in Germany, 1959-1961. He returned to the U.S. and began his teaching and coaching career at Jonesport High School. In 1963, he moved to Northfield, N.H., where he spent the next 20 years teaching, coaching, and serving as assistant principal and athletic director at Tilton-Northfield/Winnisquam Regional High School. Coach Piper led the Tilton-Northfield High School boys' varsity basketball team to victory in the 1967 state championship. In 1983, Don moved to Gainesville, Fla., where he spent the remainder of his career serving Oak Hall Private School as director of development, assistant headmaster and social studies teacher. Don was an avid fan of all sports. He was a fervent golfer and an accomplished ping-pong player. He was a rabid fan of the Gators and the Cincinnati Reds. Baseball was Don's first love and he served as a scout for the Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers. Don is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lynne Ellen (Marble) Piper; son, Michael Ross Piper of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; daughter, Penny Lynne Piper of Gainesville, Fla.; grandsons, Jordan Alan and Greydon Fisk Piper; and granddaughter, Jamie Ross Piper, all of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and sisters, Gwen Dore of Parker, Colo., and Marcia Biggane of Bangor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Don's remembrance to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226; Haven Hospice of Gainesville, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or the charity of one's choice. Memorial services for Donald Greydon Piper will be held 1 PM Tuesday, June 28th at Crosby & Neal, 117 Main Street, Newport, with the Rev. Randall Chretien officiating. Burial will follow the service at Riverside Cemetery, Newport.