1922
Donald
2018
Donald E. Chalifoux
September 6, 1922 — September 26, 2018
Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 3 in Saint Joseph Church at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery. A calling hour will be held Wednesday morning in Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg from 9:30 – 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Band Parent Association, c/o Fitchburg High School, 140 Arn How Farm Rd., Fitchburg, MA 01420, which will help support the Fitchburg High School Music Department.
Obituary
Fitchburg – Donald E. Chalifoux, 96, passed away September 26, in the Highlands.
Donald was born on September 6, 1922, in Holyoke, MA, a son of the late Eugene and Florence (Savard) Chalifoux. He moved to Fitchburg at age 8, and attended Saint Joseph’s School, Saint Bernard’s High and finally Fitchburg High, where he graduated.
He entered the military in 1942 and was in the 291st Combat Engineers as a Welder, and later a member of the Foreign Wars Post 794. He was a welding supervisor at Steel Fab in Fitchburg for over 20 years where he retired.
Donald began his music career in 1933 in the Guy De Fongland Drum and Bugle Corps under the direction of Reverend Father Lachepell, which later became the Saint Joseph Cadets. He then joined the Saint Lawrence Ayer Post 794 Drum and Bugle Corps. He eventually became their drum instructor and President. He was accepted into the All American Drum and Bugle Corps Association and was a member of the National Rudimental Drummers Association. He was one of the founders of the Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was president drum instructor and Major of the Corps for many years.
He studied music under two fine teachers, Paul W. Price and George L. Stone of Boston, MA, who was a Rudimental Specialist. He taught drum corps in many states besides the New England states.
Donald was a judge in the Drum Corps field. He was selected by the National Commissioner of Judges, Harry Robertson of St. Louis, MO with the board of directors of contest judges to judge the National VFW Drum and Bugle Corps contest held in Detroit, MI. It was a great honor to be selected to judge this type of contest. He also played in local dance bands.
Donald stated that in his thirty years in the drum corps business, he had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest people in all walks of life.
He is survived by his children, Wayne Chalifoux and wife Nancy of FL, Sandra Thomas and husband Jason of Ashburnham, grandchildren, Justin Stenuis, Emily and Allison Chalifoux; 5 great grandchildren; a brother Philip Chalifoux of Chicopee; nieces and nephews.
Donald was predeceased by his wife Anita (Girouard) Chalifoux, his granddaughter Courtney Stenuis, and his sister Lorraine DeJesus.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Band Parent Association, c/o Fitchburg High School, 140 Arn How Farm Rd., Fitchburg, MA 01420, which will help support the Fitchburg High School Music Department.
Obituary
Fitchburg – Donald E. Chalifoux, 96, passed away September 26, in the Highlands.
Donald was born on September 6, 1922, in Holyoke, MA, a son of the late Eugene and Florence (Savard) Chalifoux. He moved to Fitchburg at age 8, and attended Saint Joseph’s School, Saint Bernard’s High and finally Fitchburg High, where he graduated.
He entered the military in 1942 and was in the 291st Combat Engineers as a Welder, and later a member of the Foreign Wars Post 794. He was a welding supervisor at Steel Fab in Fitchburg for over 20 years where he retired.
Donald began his music career in 1933 in the Guy De Fongland Drum and Bugle Corps under the direction of Reverend Father Lachepell, which later became the Saint Joseph Cadets. He then joined the Saint Lawrence Ayer Post 794 Drum and Bugle Corps. He eventually became their drum instructor and President. He was accepted into the All American Drum and Bugle Corps Association and was a member of the National Rudimental Drummers Association. He was one of the founders of the Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps, where he was president drum instructor and Major of the Corps for many years.
He studied music under two fine teachers, Paul W. Price and George L. Stone of Boston, MA, who was a Rudimental Specialist. He taught drum corps in many states besides the New England states.
Donald was a judge in the Drum Corps field. He was selected by the National Commissioner of Judges, Harry Robertson of St. Louis, MO with the board of directors of contest judges to judge the National VFW Drum and Bugle Corps contest held in Detroit, MI. It was a great honor to be selected to judge this type of contest. He also played in local dance bands.
Donald stated that in his thirty years in the drum corps business, he had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest people in all walks of life.
He is survived by his children, Wayne Chalifoux and wife Nancy of FL, Sandra Thomas and husband Jason of Ashburnham, grandchildren, Justin Stenuis, Emily and Allison Chalifoux; 5 great grandchildren; a brother Philip Chalifoux of Chicopee; nieces and nephews.
Donald was predeceased by his wife Anita (Girouard) Chalifoux, his granddaughter Courtney Stenuis, and his sister Lorraine DeJesus.
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