Obituary of Donald Juan Villacci

DONALD JUAN VILLACCI, 75, of Portland, ME, passed away September 8, 2012 at Brentwood Nursing Home, Yarmouth, ME. He was born on May 3, 1937 in Portland, ME the son of Vito and Esther Jeanne (Dyer) Villacci. Don was “A TRUE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR AND AN HONORABLE MAN.” Don was from a huge family of sixteen children and lived on a farm in Falmouth. Don would tell how they would go down to the falls and catch frogs to eat, about how all the kids worked in the gardens and how hard his mother worked canning all the food. His favorite pastimes were spending time at Scarborough Downs or going to camp in Strong, Maine and visiting friends and family. He loved doing for others and he was always there when you needed him. He loved playing cribbage and was very good at it. He worked many years for the railroad and he was a proud member of the Local Laborers Union #327. He was also a member of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks. He received many awards from the Boys and Girls Club and from Big Brothers/Little Sisters. Don went to Literacy Volunteers and tried hard to learn to read. He struggled with Dyslexia but was so proud of what he learned; he even spoke at an event. He memorized a lot because of his lack of reading skills, but he had a very sharp mind. He lived for forty years in an apartment over the Griffin Club in South Portland, he so enjoyed the social atmosphere there. Twenty years ago he embarked on a new journey with his nephews to build a camp together. Don maintained the lawns and grounds and a lot of good times and memories were made. He truly especially loved Thanksgiving there at the camp, and oh, how he could eat! He is predeceased by his parents, his sisters; Madeline, Rose, Carolyn, Louise, Athelee Camilla, half sister; Belvidra, his brothers; Joseph, Frank, Gene, Justin, James, David (his Twin), and by his adopted brother; Thomas Greenwood. He is survived by his sister; Marie Brown, of Falmouth; a brother Fred, of Falmouth; and a brother, Daniel, of Cumberland; many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his good friends; Brian Houston, Chris Hyland and Jeff and Lynn Leighton. One of my fondest and grateful memories of him was when my sister Esther Jane was born. In 1954 we were sent to stay with our Uncle Jim and Aunt Joy to their farm in Cumberland. This Farm had The LONGEST driveway. I was at school and I was crying and scared. It was lightening and thundering. The winds were howling; a hurricane was coming. I will never know how anyone got a hold of Uncle Donald as we had no phones back then, but he showed up at school to get me. He took me to my Mom and there she was sitting in her rocking chair with my new little sister, Janie, and I was so proud, and my world was right again. Don was my rock that day and he has often been my rock, but it is that one single day that I have always cherished. From him and my mother and father I learned honor and I learned to share and to help others. He always watched over all of us and we tried to watch over him, we have no regrets. So many in this family have good memories, for example, he was always giving out instant lottery tickets at Christmas to the kids and adults. And the fun when someone won! There are just so many good memories. Donations may be offered in Don's memory to the following: Literacy Volunteers, 12 Spruce Street, Suite 2, Augusta, Maine 04330; Falmouth Historical Society, 2 Homestead Lane, Falmouth, Maine 04105; Little Brothers/Little Sisters; or just do somenting good and kind for someone else.