Capt. W. Donald Jeffrey

Captain W. Donald Jeffrey, 76, of Salem and St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands, passed away February 22, 2019 at Hathorne Hill Rehabilitation Center in Danvers with his dear friends by his side.

Born in Salem, he was the son of the late William E. Jeffrey, long time Salem News employee, and Lillian (Cunningham) Jeffrey. He was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School. Don continued his education at Maine Maritime Academy where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science.

Mr. Jeffrey proudly served his country as a Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserves for 18 years.

His early assignments with American Export Ibrandtsen Lines as 2nd Officer and Navigator and Boston Tow Boat Corp as Chief Officer and Docking Pilot afforded him the experience to embark on a long and noted career at Massachusetts Port Authority, where his overall responsibility was the protection of life and property from fire. He was steadfast in his duties and responsibilities to protect lives in the case of fire. He was a noted expert in his field and received a commendation for leadership and professionalism while in command of firefighting, successfully combating an aircraft engine fire with people on board. He matriculated to Senior Pilot for the Port of St. Thomas where he was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard Plaque of Merit and the US Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for the “Valiant Rescue of the crew…” of a runaway vessel off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. His career spanned 45 years of dedicated public service and was a nationally recognized authority on aircraft crash, fire and rescue.

A licensed aircraft pilot, Donald owned and maintained his own plane. He established and managed a private Aircraft Charter Corporation and enjoyed the sense of freedom flying gave him. He was a proud past member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Massachusetts Association and New England Association of Fire Chiefs and most proud to be a member of the Salem Marine Society, the 2nd oldest association of Ship Masters in the world. He was devoted to his faith and was a daily communicant at the Immaculate Conception Church in Salem. He was a loving son and lifelong friend to many and will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by those who loved and cared for him.

Surviving Don are his dear friends Arthur and Margaret Hatfield of Hamilton and their children, Dan Hatfield and his wife Alison and Kate Costello and her husband Patrick and their children Lily and Tommy Costello, Richard Finocchio of Marblehead, Thomas Brady of Burlington, Donald Gallant of Ipswich, Betteanne Visnovsky and her husband Bob of Florida and St. Thomas, and Davis Murray and Sparrow both of St. Thomas, USVI and many dear friends.