Donald David Fuller, 71, left this world too soon in the early morning hours of April 27, 2026 with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Brenda Fuller, and was also known as Papa, Juano and Freddy.

Raised in Thomaston, Don lived much of his life in Waterbury. At his passing, he resided in Oakville with his wife. They met at a newspaper party in 1991 and hit it off. It was a 35 year love affair.

Don possessed a dry wit. A lexophile, he loved books, and read voraciously, sometimes reading several books in a week. He had a passion for golf as well as sports including basketball, following the UConn Husky men's and women's basketball teams ,and rooting for the Mets. During the 1990s he helped run the first winter recreation basketball league in Thomaston. He also played in a golf league at Western Hills for many years.

In his youth, he worked at the family business, Fullers 5 & 10 in Thomaston. After graduating from Eastern Connecticut State University, he drove a cab in Las Vegas for five years during what he called “Jimmy Carter's recession.”

He spent most of his career working as a fifth grade teacher at Driggs School in Waterbury. Don also enjoyed teaching driver’s ed for The Next Street driving school during his retirement, being paid to tell people how to drive.

Don got his undergraduate degree in English from Eastern and a Masters of Teaching at Sacred Heart University.

He was also a lover of music, and he enjoyed many concerts. He especially liked musicians Tom Waits, Merle Haggard and Commander Cody.

He was funny and loyal and kind, the type of person people gravitated to.

Don and his wife traveled to Ireland, Iceland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, California, Maine and Seattle. He also joined his friends on golf trips to Hilton Head, Miami and Vermont. But his greatest joy was being home in Connecticut surrounded by his family and friends.

He also truly enjoyed being a grandfather to Jake and Layla, both of whom he was so proud.

Don was predeceased by his father, Revilo Fuller, his mother, Beatrice (Cunningham) Fuller, and his older brother, Peter, who passed away earlier this year. Besides his wife, he is survived by his stepson, Jason Soper (Krystal), his sister, Susan Fuller, his sister Margaret Protzman(Donald), his brother, Timothy Fuller, (Stacey) his sister in law, Joan Fuller, his grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends too many to count including, Ken Yaffee, Robert Stack and Robert DeRose, who all showed up for him as his health declined.

Don lived many years with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder that contributes to COPD, a lung disease. Even as his health declined, he never complained and tried to live as normal a life as possible.

Visitation will be at the Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High Street, Thomaston, May 12th from 5 to 8 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 am May 13th at St, Thomas Church, 1 East Main Street, Thomaston. Please meet directly at church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to National Public Radio www.npr.org/donations/support