Donald Brown Coleman, Jr. passed away on December 11, 2024 at home under the care of Hospice of the Chesapeake. He fought a courageous two year fight against pancreatic cancer.

Don was born on February 11, 1943 in Elkton, MD to Donald B. Coleman, Sr. and Clara Elizabeth Ireland Coleman. His childhood was spent in his beloved Chestertown, MD, where he graduated from Chestertown High School. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he met his wife. Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret (Maggie), and his son, Donald B. Coleman III of Arnold, MD, his brother, Robert W. Coleman of Chestertown, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia Ann Coleman of Livingston, Texas.

Donald left college in 1967, enlisting in the Navy. He spent a year supervising a small craft repair shop in DaNang,Viet Nam and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his service. After Viet Nam he was stationed in Bremerton, Washington, where the U.S.S. Seattle (AOE 3) was built and subsequently commissioned. As a member of the first crew of the ship, he was a Plank Owner of the Seattle. Upon discharge from the Navy he returned to MD with his wife and infant son to complete his college degree, graduating with a B.S. Degree from the U. of MD College of Business and Public Administration in 1972.

After graduation he joined Xerox Corporation as a technician, working in the Suburban Washington Maryland region, and later in the Baltimore region until retiring in 2005.

Don loved sailing and captained his 34 foot sloop for 37 years, sailing the Chesapeake Bay from the Whitehurst community marina in Severna Park. With his wife and friends he enjoyed bareboat charters to the British and American Virgin Islands, and one to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2005 he and his wife sailed his boat to Florida traversing the Intracoastal Waterway and back. Additionally, he crewed on two Annapolis to Bermuda races.

Travel was another one of Don's passions. Don and his wife enjoyed extensive international travel to every continent except Antarctica. He enjoyed seeing and learning how citizens of the world lived.

Don was a kind and caring person who loved his family, his friends, neighbors and animals.

A private service will be held at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery. A Celebration of Life is planned but the date is not yet set.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Don's name to the American Cancer Society or the S.P.C.A. of Anne Arundel County.