Obituary : Donald W. Gregory
Published: February 5, 2009
Donald William Gregory of Oak Bluffs, owner of Sun-N-Fun Jeep and Moped Rentals, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
He was born on August 5, 1942 in Ticonderoga, N.Y. the son of William Wallace Gregory and Christine (Trombly) Gregory. Don attended the Ticonderoga High School and after his graduation he joined the Air Force. He was stationed in Weathersfield, England during the Vietnam War, where he served four years.
After leaving the Air Force, Don managed stores throughout New England for J.J. Newbury. Later he was top salesman for Grossman Homes in Hyannis.
Don held a general contractor's license for most of his adult life. During that time he built hundreds of homes in Falmouth, Mashpee, and later on Martha's Vineyard. Don also founded and operated Captain's Video, Crazy Rags Apparel and Polly's Kitchen, all located in Oak Bluffs.
In the last 30 years, Don enjoyed owning and operating D&G Construction and Sun-N-Fun Inc., the Jeep and Moped Rental office in Oak Bluffs.
Don was an avid sportsman and enjoyed saltwater fishing from shore in particular. Above all Don enjoyed entertaining his family, friends, customers, and even Barack Obama with his quick wit and unbelievably hilarious stories. He could lighten anyone's day in the darkest of times. Many tourists would say the highlight of their vacation would be the 20 minutes they spent with Don. He was an amazing salesman. Don could sell ice to an Eskimo and he was the only person in the world who could sell "free maps" for one dollar.
He leaves behind his wife of 12 years Virginia "Ginny" Dill Gregory; his mother-in-law, Eleanor S. Dill of Oak Bluffs and North Palm Beach; his sons, Douglas, Robert and Donnie Gregory; his step-children, Charles Rechtsteiner, Heidi Rechtsteiner, Heather Groff, Mark, Kevin, Kyle, Timmy and Missey Peters; and 22 grandchildren with one on the way.
Visiting hours will be on Friday, Feb. 6, in the Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, located on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs from 6 to 8 pm. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 1 pm in the Whaling Church on Main Street in Edgartown. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the Gregory College Fund and Autism Speaks, P.O. Box 38, Oak Bluffs MA 02557.
Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
