Donald Earl Strong

ATHOL - Donald Earl Strong, 78, born March 10, 1931, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Athol Memorial Hospital. He was the son of Exina (Bruce) and Allie B. Strong. Donald attended Athol schools and Boston Conservatory of Music in Boston, Ma. Donald moved to New York City in 1959, where he made his home for the next 45 years. He was a professional dancer, first touring around the country with a Broadway touring company, then as a principal dancer on Broadway in shows such as Pickwick, Camelot, Twelfth Night and many others which featured such talents as Linda Lavin, Van Johnson and Richard Burton. After his dancing career, he was the manager at Studio Duplicating Company of NYC, specializing in editing and production of scripts and playbills for theater in New York. He returned to the Athol area several years ago. Donald served during the Korean War in the United States Army as Sergeant from 1952 to 1954. He is survived by his brother, Allie "Pete" Strong and his family Chris Strong, Kent and Sue Strong of Athol, and Kathy Colmenares of Royalston. A sister Muriel "Mikey" Watkevich, husband Stanley and their children Marie Capone, Greg and Kate Watkevich of Athol, Nancy Thomson and Richard Brooks of Templeton, Jeanne and Ray Hackney of Woodstock, GA., Stan and Judy Watkevich of Naples, Fla., Glenn and Renee Watkevich of Wilson, NC., and a sister Judie Oleson, husband Bob and children Joanne and Brian McKeown, Karen Oleson and Erik Oleson, all of Enfield, CT. A niece, Lynn Monroe, husband Bill of Enfield, Ct. and a nephew Dick Begor, wife Ellie, of Athol, dear friends Grey and Kit Shepard of California and New York City, George Feeney and Beverly Hirst of New York City. He was predeceased by his sister Lillian Begor and sister in law Gerry Strong. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be at the Massachusetts Memorial Veteran's Cemetery in Winchendon, Ma. Memorial donations may be made to Quabbin Valley Healthcare, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA. To sign the online guestbook please visit www.fiskefuneralhome.com. Fiske Funeral Home of Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });