Donald Foster Mallinson, 88, of Falmouth, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, sailor, hiker, traveler, reader, photographer, environmentalist, progressive liberal, and prolific writer of letters to the editor died on Monday, March 11, 2024 at the McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, MA after a winter of declining health and illness.

Don is survived by his wife of 32 years, Eileen (Carmody) Palmer Mallinson; by his children Deborah Burke and her husband Tim; Douglas Mallinson and his wife Deborah; Lisa Brown and her partner Donny; Ian Mallinson and his wife Joanna Dunn; by Eileen's children Ginny Palmer and her partner Tami; Michael Palmer and his wife Leah; Christopher Palmer and his wife Jennifer; 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

This curious, multi-faceted man entered the world on March 31, 1935 in Malden, MA. His father, Alexander "Scotty" Mallinson had recently emigrated from Scotland and worked on a film crew for Roosevelt's WPA projects before a long career as a pipe fitter for Hood Milk. His mother, Helen Mae (Osborne) Mallinson, worked in government administration and drove a jaunty yellow Charger. Don had two siblings, older sister Winifred and younger brother Kenny.

After graduating from high school in Tewksbury, Don commuted to Boston University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. While there, he met and married his first wife, Ann (Pulsifer) Mallinson in 1960. BU is also where Don began his lifelong love of sailing, falling into it when he arbitrarily chose a sailing class to fill a physical education requirement.

Don enlisted in the army in 1958. While initially slated for the infantry, his ability to type diverted him to an office job at US Army Headquarters in Berlin, West Germany. His wife, Ann, a teacher, joined him there and this is where their first child was born. Don's burgeoning interest in photography enabled him to capture pictures of Russian soldiers erecting barbed wire across the city, the beginnings of the Berlin Wall.

Returning to the US in 1961, Don worked various communications jobs at WPRI-TV and WGBH-TV before transitioning to marketing at EG&G and Digital Equipment Corporation. His career resulted in the family living in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Family vacations centered on hiking and camping throughout the White Mountains and Maine. Don and Ann divorced in 1984.

Upon retirement from DEC in 1990, Don embarked on a year-long solo sail around the US on his sailboat, Nomad, from Greenwich, RI to Seattle, WA.

Don and Eileen, an artist and graphic designer, married in 1992, and they enjoyed many adventures together both on land and sea. They traveled throughout the United States, and to Europe, by plane, train, car, river boat, and camper van. Upon Eileen's retirement, they bought a 37' catamaran that they named Exaltation and spent 2001-2002 sailing the east coast from New England to the Florida Keys. When it was time to return to solid ground, they settled into retirement in Middletown, Rhode Island. During these years, Don was Eileen's biggest supporter of her watercolor painting, serving as printer and framer of her work.

Don's years-long interest in climate change and the environment was about to be manifested. After much research, planning, and design, Don was ready to embark on his biggest dream—building a truly environmentally "Net Zero" home. Falmouth, near Eileen's children, was selected for the location. Don's dream was realized in 2012. He would proudly and endlessly hold court on every detail of construction, even receiving a write-up in the Falmouth Enterprise and giving tours to others interested in building such a home.

During most of his life, Don was active in the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, environmental causes, and was well-versed and outspoken about democratic politics. He was the initiator of the elimination of single-use plastic bags in Falmouth which resulted in a standing ovation at the town meeting where the resolution passed unanimously. He taught boating safety and navigation for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was instrumental in the Newport and Falmouth Unitarian Universalist Fellowships earning their "Green Sanctuary" designations. Proud accomplishments also include jumping out of an airplane and climbing Mt. Ranier. His loving family will remember him as the best baker of bread, pies, and granola.

Don wanted to be remembered as someone who was part of the solution, not part of the problem. And, he will be.

A service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 4. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a donation to the environmental cause of your choice.