DONALD JAMES SANSONE

Mesquite, Nevada

Donald James Sansone (formerly of Huntsville, Utah) age 88, completed his job on Earth on Tuesday 27 August 2024. He was born September 9, 1935 in Chicago Illinois to Salvatore A. Sansone and Josephine Marie Datillo Sansone. Don was the youngest of two children. He grew up in Chicago and graduated from DeVry Technical Institution. In September 1954, he entered the United States Army and upon graduation from basic training was assigned to SHAPE Headquarters in Paris, France where he helped to maintain radio communications with NATO countries. He was honorably discharged in 1956.

Upon his return to the U.S. he was employed by Martin-Marietta Corp (Orlando Florida) where he began his long career (36 years) in the Defense and Aerospace industries. After receiving his training at the Martin Corp he was assigned as a field engineer in the San Francisco Air Defense Center. It was there that he met and married Kathleen Anne Monahan, his love and best friend of 62 years. Together they spent the next year traveling as Don worked at NIKE Air Defense installations throughout the United States. They had their first child, a son (Anthony Sansone) in Orlando.

Don then changed employment to the Emerson Electric Company in the Electronics and Space Division (St Louis, Missouri). He served in several program management positions accomplishing weapon system sustainment for helicopters, TOW missile launcher and support for deployed aircraft radar systems. While in Missouri, Don and Kathy had three more children, a son (Vincent Sansone) and then twins (Michelle Sansone LeFevre and Michael Sansone). The ensuing years were focused on raising their children. Don also returned to complete his higher education with a bachelor’s degree Cum Laude in Business Administration.

The family decided to leave the big city environment and moved to Huntsville, Utah a small rural town with a population back then of 565 people. Don took employment with the Thiokol Corporation working on the Air Force Peacekeeper (MX – ICBM) program which was one of the most successful U.S. advanced missile development programs. Don supported the flight test and logistics programs as manager of Systems Management Department until his retirement. Don and Kathy moved to Mesquite, Nevada to enjoy all that it had to offer.

He is survived by his life mate Kathy, and his special and talented children, Tony, Vince, Michelle and Michael; ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Salvatore (Tony), and two grandchildren, William Christopher Bachman and Alexander Donald Sansone.