DONALD LEE BOOTHMAN

Donald Lee Boothman died at home on July 6 in Hardwick, Massachusetts, at the age of 82.

Donald is survived by his wife Kaye Boothman, his daughters Barbara Grofic of Glenn Dale, Maryland and Laura Stamm of Lexington, Massachusetts, and his sisters, Jeanne Calnan of Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Constance Hunter of Carmen, Idaho. 

Donald was a singer, teacher, and musical commentator, performing opera, oratorio and concerts in forty-six of the United States and in thirty-eight countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America and broadcast across Eastern Europe.

Donald was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  Following formal education at Princeton University and Oberlin College, he joined the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants as Soloist and Announcer.  His professional roles included Washington Civic Opera lead baritone, Washington radio commentator, American and Clark University professor, private voice teacher, and Washington Hebrew Congregation Cantorial Soloist.  He was a talented wood worker, kayaker, and crossword puzzle aficionado.

Donald moved to Hardwick, Massachusetts in 1983 and married his wife Kaye in 1987.  Together they raised llamas and cultivated beautiful gardens.  He was a co-founder of the Hardwick Area Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Gilbertville Organ. Every year Donald officially opened the Hardwick Fair by singing the National Anthem at the flagpole.  He was a Hardwick Cemetery Commissioner, organized the design and placement of the memorial benches that grace the common, and could be heard playing the bells in the Universalist Church on Sunday evenings.  For the past 5 years, Donald and Kaye have made annual trips to England and Wales, where Donald joined cellist Anup Kumar Biswas in performing concerts to support the Mathieson Music School in Kolkata, India.

A funeral is scheduled for July 16 at 10:30 am at the Stone Church in Gilbertville, Massachusetts, with a reception to follow at Eagle Hill School.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Donald’s life. Interment at the Hardwick Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Friends of the Mathieson School Inc, 171 Ruggles Hill Road, Hardwick Massachusetts 01037.

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