Donn Barclay

Donn J. Barclay, devoted family man, avid bridge player and life-long New York Football Giants’ fan died on January 1, 2017. He was 94. He had been in declining health due to pulmonary complications. Mr. Barclay was born on July 20, 1922 in East Orange, NJ to Harry and Anne Barclay. He was a young boy with four sisters when his father passed away. His uncle, Tim Mara, owner of the Giants, assumed a guardian role to the family. Mr. Barclay was an Eagle Scout and a ball boy at the Polo Grounds where the team played, then team assistant after his service in World War II. He graduated from Hempstead High School. During World War II he served in the 317th Fighter Control Squadron of the Army Air Corps in China, Burma and India. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1949. Mr. Barclay worked in management for General Motors and Chrysler. He and his wife, Annaliese, whom he married in 1948, raised their four children in New City in New York’s Hudson Valley and in 1982, he and his wife retired to Shelter Harbor, Rhode Island. Mr. Barclay was a history lover who read and traveled widely. He had a passion for anything made of stone and was fascinated by the history of Westerly and its connection to the granite industry. In his later years, he was a docent at the Babcock-Smith House Museum and a regular master at the bridge table. His real love, however, was his family, and he delighted in his birthday parties with family and his many friends. He was a man possessed of a sensitive soul, vitality, and keen intellect. He was known for being an all-around nice guy. He was a true patriot, with love of God and country. On June 24, 2006 Donn married Margaret Saunders Quintero of Westerly. During their marriage Donn and Margaret enjoyed traveling extensively and playing bridge together. He was predeceased by his wife, Annaliese and his four sisters. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Saunders Barclay; four children, Karen and husband, Richard; Donn L. Barclay; Lauren Anderson and husband Robert; Claudia Barclay; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two step-sons. Visitation will be from 2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce Street, Westerly, RI 02891. At a future date yet to be determined, a private family burial ceremony will take place at River Bend Cemetery. For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Orlando R. Smith Trust (Babcock-Smith House Museum) c/o Maureen Bjorkland, 60 High Street, Ashaway, RI 02804.