Donald D. Sagaser

Donald D. Sagaser was born and raised in Missouri. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1948 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and went to Bell Telephone Laboratories in New Jersey and later in North Andover, working on electrical systems for communications. He retired in 1986 as Head of the Dept. for Digital Data Transmission and Systems.

Mr. Sagaser had been very active in Andover community organizations, being an officer or director of the American Field Service, Andover Visiting Nurse Association, Andover Village Improvement Society, Andover Home for Aged Persons, Andover Choral Society, Interfaith Counseling Service, Andover Committee for A Better Chance (ABC), Andover Little League, Andover Badminton Club, and Andover Tennis Club. He coached teams in the Little League, Pee Wee Hockey, and Church Basketball League. As a new resident in the 1950’s, he found that there were no public tennis courts in Andover. He kept after several town organizations to address the issue, and courts were eventually built at the schools and what is now Recreation Park. He and another resident also found space, such as in churches, for public evening courses, there being some held by Phillips Academy, but no such Town activity offered. Then he was appointed to the Town Recreation Committee and made chairman. The committee persuaded the Town to hire the first recreation director. Those things evolved into the present extremely active and beneficial Department of Community Services.

Through the years, he and Mrs. Sagaser hosted several foreign students and students of ABC. They enjoyed traveling throughout the USA with their young family visiting many National Parks on trips with a pop-up camper, vacationing on Crystal Lake in Michigan, and in retirement travelling on many cruises and to many foreign countries.
He was a member of South Church since 1956 and served as a Sunday School teacher, Assistant Scoutmaster, Church School Superintendent, and on several boards and committees.

Members of his family, to whom he was deeply devoted, included his late wife of 56 years, Janyce (Westcott) Sagaser; daughter Linda Kao and husband Teh-hui of State College, PA; son David and wife Carol of Franklin, MA; daughter Nancy Tecla, whose husband Philip is deceased, of Plant City, FL; daughter Catherine Greenwald and husband Willard, of Pownal, VT; son John and wife Elizabeth of Waterville, ME; daughter Diane Sagaser and husband Paul Doucette of Groveland, MA; fourteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A sister, Venita Coleman, preceded him in death.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at South Church in Andover on a Saturday in early Spring 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.