Donald Rotar Sr. 1928-2025

The youngest of 10 children, Don was born Oct. 4, 1928, in Youngstown, to Alexander and Josephine Rotar, who immigrated to the U.S. from Romania in the early 1900s.

He graduated from Scienceville High School (later Youngstown North High School) in 1946.

Donald worked at the downtown Youngstown Isaly’s and then began a career as a meat cutter at A&P market. He was the meat department manager at Bindas Sparkle Market on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown for 37 years until his retirement in 1990.

An avid bowler and golfer, Don was a member of his church’s bowling team for 50 years, competing at Marvondale and then Boardman Lanes. He golfed weekly until he was 85 years old.

A lifelong devout Methodist, Don was a member of McGuffey Methodist Church, and later Richard Brown Methodist church on Elm Street in Youngstown. At various times, he served as a Sunday school teacher, young adult group leader, sang in the choir, was the chairman of the administrative council, and a lay leader of the church. He was the administrator of the food pantry there for 30 years and even continued as the church’s treasurer.

In 2019, Richard Brown Church merged with other Methodist churches to form Mill Creek Community United Methodist Church.

Don loved to sing. He was a member of both the Youngstown and Warren chapters of Barbershoppers for 39 years. He became the assistant director of the Warren chapter in 2008. He was honored as Warren’s Barbershopper of the Year in both 2010 and 2016.

Along with his parents, Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia Keehner Rotar, whom he married in 1948 and who passed in 1982. He then married Mary Katherine “Kitty” Clemens in 1984, who passed away in November 2017.

He was also preceded in death by his stepson, Dale Clemens Jr., in 2018. He was the last survivor of the “Greatest Generation” of the Rotar family, surviving two brothers who died as infants, along with his brothers, sisters and their spouses, Alex (Madeline), Charles (Ruth), Rudy (Frances, and then Dorothy Sirbu), Willie (Mary), Helen (George) Weamer, Elsie (Howard “Buzz”) Jones and Dorothy (Dick) Kersten.

Don leaves to cherish his memory, two sons, Don Jr. (Kathy) of Toledo and David (Anna) of Florida; two daughters, Maggie (Jeff) Valloric of Colorado and Carrie (Mike) Novotny of Salem; a stepdaughter-in-law, Georgia Clemens of Florida; nine grandchildren, Sean (Jenelle) Rotar of Indiana, Jason (Tori) Rotar of Toledo, Jennifer Valloric (Josh) of Colorado, Michael (Nichole) Valloric of Colorado, Joseph (Amber) Rotar of Alaska, Anthony (Christine) Rotar of Ohio, Stephen Novotny (Sarah Stroney) of Pittsburgh, Pa., Ryan (Joree) Novotny of Dublin and Nicole Novotny of Salem; two step-grandchildren, Brent (Heidi) Clemens and Melissa (Josh) Sherman; 12 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends and relatives for visitation 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Blackstone Funeral Home in Girard.

Per the family’s wishes, services and burial for Donald will be private.

Don will be laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, next to his first wife, Patricia.

In lieu of flowers, Don asked that donations be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church, addressed as follows: Cindy Renner, 1660 Laura Lane, Mineral Ridge, OH 44440. Make checks payable to: Trinity United Methodist Church. In Memo, put Food shelf – Don Rotar.

You may visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send any expressions of sympathy to the family.

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