Donald E. Florence Jr.
…Merrimack Valley Entrepreneur and Businessman; 75
ATKINSON, NH – Donald E. Florence Jr., age 75, a well known Businessman in the Merrimack Valley region, died peacefully on April 13, 2020 after a long battle with failing health. He was the beloved husband of Gerlinde “Sandy” (Kremer) Florence, with whom he would have celebrated a fifty-fifth wedding anniversary in May.
Don was born in Winchester, MA, a son of the late Donald and Isabelle (Tower) Florence Sr., and raised in Reading, Massachusetts. After graduating from Reading High School, he enlisted into the U.S. Army and served in the Missile Battalion of the 1st U.S. Army in Germany. While in the Army, he met and married his German wife, and happily delivered their daughter while stationed in Germany. After an honorable discharge, they returned to Reading, where they joyously added their son to their family.
As a young adult, Don was a police officer for the Hollywood, FL, police department. After returning from Florida, he settled down in Tewksbury to raise his family. Shortly thereafter he was severely injured in a motorcycle accident, and in spite of the loss of his leg, remained active, never acknowledging his handicap. He was featured on channel 5 and received the A+ Award for his work with the handicapped. He worked as an Entrepreneur and organized several businesses in the area, including Merrimack Valley Medical services, Parker Company and culminating as C.E.O. of the Flight Land Data Company. That company developed the Hawkeye system which detected thousands of battlefield threats before they could harm U.S. military personnel. He was awarded the Army’s “Greatest Invention of the Year” in 2006 by the US Army for that system. He was an avid out-doors man, and loved hunting and fishing, especially with his son. He spent time on Lake Winnipesaukee at his vacation home boating with his family. He was a private pilot, and over the years, owned several aircraft based at the Lawrence Airport. He served as a volunteer for Angel Flight. He had a love collecting cars and hot rods as a member of the Orientals Hot Rod Club and owned a Dragster “The Time Machine” which he raced throughout New England, New York and Florida. He was also featured on TV’s Discovery Channel for his love of drag car racing.
Besides his wife, he leaves two children, Sandra Wright and her husband John of Chester, NH and Michael Florence and his wife Taylor of Kensington, NH; four grandchildren, Emerald Wright, Michael, Mark, and Kendall Florence; two sisters, Gail Levoshko of Billerica and Linda Lynch of Georgia, sister-in-law, Ingrid Barricklo of Texas, his niece Lori Castine, nephews Michael Levoshko, Matthew Lynch, Donny and Tommy Barricklo, and his best friend David Abreu.
Due to the Covid-19 Virus emergency, funeral services are private. A Memorial Mass and “Celebration of Life” will be announced when the crisis has passed. Memorials to the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave, Salem, MA 01970 or www.northeastanimalshelter.org are encouraged. The Tewksbury Funeral Home is honored to serve the Florence family. visit: tewksburyfuneralhome.com