Obituary of Donald F. Koch

Donald F Koch, 76, of Manhasset, New York, passed away on Sunday, March 4th.

The son of Ferdinand Koch, a longshoreman, and Lucille Evangeline Smith, a homemaker, Don was born and raised in Queens. He was a proud alumnus of Queens College (BA ‘67) and Pace University (MBA ‘78), and worked for years as an IT Auditor, most recently at Northrop Grumman.

Don celebrated 43 years of marriage this summer to Senetta. His family was his greatest joy, including daughters Lauren and Leslie and grandchildren Curtis, Kilian and Mila.

Don joined the Navy at 17 years old and was stationed in the Caribbean; this experience sparked a life-long passion for travel. His favorite destination was Berlin, where he enjoyed visiting historical sites, dining on bratwurst, and imagining himself in a Marlene Dietrich film.

Don was an ardent Mets fan since their debut at the Polo Grounds, and followed nearly every game for over 50 years. In his final days, he reminisced about the Amazing Mets and his hero, Willie Mays. He was also a lover of the arts, frequenting Broadway and off-Broadway productions (especially musicals).

Friends may join the family on Friday, March 9, at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, 1570 Northern Blvd, Manhasset, NY from 3-5pm, and 7-9pm. A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, March 10 at 1:30 pm in Christ Episcopal Church, 1355 Northern Blvd, Manhasset, NY.