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Donald William DeLavergne
Donald William DeLavergne of Westhampton Beach died at his home on Friday, July 1, after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 55.
Mr. DeLavergne loved the blues. He spent much of his time listening to the greats, such as the Allman Brothers and Derek Trucks, who eventually became his good friends through his work with the Blues Foundation and the Music Maker Relief Foundation.
“The music was real and made him feel alive,” said his wife Michelle DeLavergne. “The blues are happy and upbeat. It’s not the same type of music you hear today. He loved it.”
In his enthusiasm, he influenced his two daughters to learn how to play guitar and even fancied himself a harmonica player. “He liked to think he played,” Ms. DeLavergne said laughing.
Born December 28, 1955, to Robert and Janice DeLavergne, he graduated from Patchogue Medford High School and attended SUNY Cobleskill College for two years.
As a boy, Mr. DeLavergne practically grew up outside. “His father was Daniel Boone himself,” Ms. DeLavergne said. When he was 12 years old, he worked at a restaurant cleaning dishes and used his wages to buy his first boat. He loved to fish and clam on his boat.
For 30 years, Mr. DeLavergne owned and operated the Casino Clam Company in Patchogue. He loved fishing and traveled to Guatemala and Costa Rica, among other countries, to fish and enjoy each country’s beauty with his wife Michelle. The family recently visited Maine and enjoyed a quiet, restful time together.
Ms. DeLavergne met him when she was 11 years old. “He used to give tomatoes to my mom,” she said.
About 11 years ago they fell in love. “We chose different paths but met again.”
For the last five years, Mr. DeLavergne was sick with pancreatic cancer but chose to live life to the fullest.
On June 23 of this year, Mr. DeLavergne and his wife Michelle were married at Stony Brook University Medical Center in his hospital room.
“I was in my work uniform,” Ms. DeLavergne said. “I wanted to make his wishes come true.”
In addition to his wife Michelle, he is survived by two daughters, Alexus and Miranda VanHelmond of Westhampton Beach; siblings, Bob DeLavergne and his wife Joanne of Brookhaven, Patricia Barth and her husband Allen of D.C.; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service took place at the United Methodist Church of Patchogue on Tuesday, July 5. Interment followed on Wednesday, July 6 at Westhampton Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Robertaccio Funeral Home in Patchogue.
Memorial donations to The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714, would be appreciated by the family.
on Jul 13, 2011