Don Lee Fitch

Don Fitch, 85 years of age, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of September 24th. Don was a loving husband to his wife Joyce for 61 years, a proud father of 2 sons, a grandfather of 5 and a great-grandfather of 2.

Don was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 17, 1930, during the Great Depression. He often spoke of the hard times he witnessed as a small child, and the effect it had on him for the rest of his life. Despite this, Don was a happy, whimsical boy, traits he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

After graduating college at Omaha University, he married his longtime sweetheart, Joyce and soon after they started a family in Des Moines Iowa, where Don had a job selling the forerunner of what would become the first TV dinners, made by Swanson Foods.

The family later relocated back to Omaha, where Don took a job with Duncan Foods, marketing coffee and orange juice brands in the Midwest. In 1962, the family moved to Houston, where Don spent the rest of his life. After a stint at the Coca Cola Foods Division, Don went to work in 1970 for a local advertising agency, O’Neill, Price, Anderson & Fouchard, where he worked on a variety of accounts, most notably a new waste service company called Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI). He eventually left the agency and started his own agency, Don Fitch & Co., where he built a successful business, using his skills and magnetic personality.

In 1978 he accepted a job with BFI managing first their national advertising and marketing, then later focusing his efforts solely on Houston Community Affairs. During the 1980’s and 90’s, he was referred to by many as “Mr. Houston” because it seemed he was everywhere. Don served on the boards of the Alley Theater, the Houston Zoo, the International Festival and Clean Houston, where he also served a stint as Chairman. More recently, he was on the advisory board of the Houston Salvation Army. Oh how he looked forward to ringing the bell at Christmas time at the Voss Road Kroger store! Don coordinated the citywide cleanup effort for both the 1990 G7 Economic Summit and the 1992 Republican National Convention. Don was also a lifetime director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and a 30+ year member of Lakeside Country Club.

He played golf with Arnold Palmer and George HW Bush and during his travels, met Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and King Juan Carlos of Spain. While he enjoyed showing off his photos with them, Don was really at his best with his family and close friends. In the 80’s that meant his many close friends at BFI, where he and Joyce made annual ski trips to Colorado and trips to Pebble Beach. In more recent times it was the Ciro’s bar group and his regular Saturday foursome at Lakeside.

Throughout it all of course, were get-togethers with his sons and their families in Houston. Treasured Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings spent first at their home, and later alternating between their son’s family’s homes, meant joyful days filled with jokes, stories, discussions regarding the local sports teams shortcomings, and always ending with dessert. Don was the master dessert connoisseur!

Don loved people, and always took the time at a store, restaurant or at the building security desk to spend a few extra seconds with a joke or a friendly conversation to make their day a little brighter. He was a giver, a master joke-teller, and a very occasional amateur magician for those fortunate enough over the years to witness his napkin bunnies or coin tricks! He brought instant energy into a room upon entering, and people just enjoyed being around him.

Don left a lasting memory for those who knew him, and he would hope that those who knew him would do the same on their journey through life.

Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joyce; son Brad & wife Sandy and son Scott & wife Lynn; a grandson, Brian, granddaughters, Katie, Jennifer, Sarah, and Melanie; and 2 great-grandsons, John and Michael.

In lieu of flowers, Don would really have appreciated if you made a contribution to the Salvation Army.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Don Lee Fitch will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 1:00pm in the Hankamer Chapel of Second Baptist Church Woodway.

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