Donald Jerome Pizzimenti, age 91, passed away on November 20th, 2016.He was the loving husband of Jewel for 67 years.Don was the dear father of Donna, Janine, Jim (Mary), Lee Ann (Terry), John (Irene), and Clare (Scott). Don was blessed with 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Carol (Lee) and preceded in death by 4 siblings; Vince, Rosemary, Louise, Joann, and his daughter Donna.
Don lived a life of service to others.He retired as Vice President of Community and Governmental Relations at Detroit Edison in 1984 after a 35 year career.This was only a part of the story of a successful life.Beyond his vocation was his avocation for community service, and he gave of his time and his treasure freely and with joy.
Don will be remembered for his volunteer service to several nonprofit and community service organizations over many decades.Among them were boards including United Way of Southeast Michigan and he served as President of the United Way of Michigan.He also served on the board of The American Red Cross of Southeast Michigan for 35 years, and was active in many other charities.
In community service, Don served as a councilman in Allen Park for 3 terms in the 1960's and ran for mayor.He represented Allen Park as Chairman of the Peoples Community Hospital Authority for 25 years and shepherded the merger with Oakwood Hospital in 1989.In 1968, Don worked with New Detroit and the Archbishop's Committee in the Archdiocese of Detroit to help heal the wounds of racial divide in the city.
Don was a renaissance man.Before his successful career in business, he was an accomplished jazz vocalist.Don worked as a professional singer with many big bands and jazz groups in the 1940's and 1950's, including his work as the headline singer at The Bowery, a famous jazz club in Detroit where he shared the stage with great jazz vocalists like Sara Vaughn.He had a great and abiding love of literature, art, and, of course, conversation.
At the end of his life, Don's legacy is found in the relationships he cherished.His fierce devotion to his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and to his extended family, friends, his church, and the wider world, was rooted in his deep and abiding faith in God.He is regularly quoted by those who knew him, but beyond his words, his loved ones will remember how they felt when they were with him.
Don's message to us was/is clear:You are loved, you are valued - you matter.
Don, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, leaves us all grateful for his deep imprint, and a longing to emulate his strong, loving presence.While we will miss him profoundly, we will strive to carry his legacy forward.
There will be a Funeral Mass in the Chapel at Henry Ford Village, 15101 Ford Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48126 at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2016.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Michigan, Donation Processing Center, 400 Mack Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201 www.hom.org