Donald Gerard McKillop, born February 25, 1945 in Medford, MA, died August 15, 2020 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, FL of complications from COVID 19. He was the son of the late Archibald Bernard and Alice Mary McKillop and grew up in Woburn, MA. He graduated from Boston College High School and achieved a BS and MBA from Northeastern University in Boston.
Don is survived by his wife, Susan Griffith Davy of Sarasota; his sons Matthew McKillop and his wife Lauralee Dubois of Westwood, MA; by Patrick McKillop and his wife Alicia of Pembroke, MA; by his granddaughters Colleen, Elise, Rylie of Pembroke, by Ellie of Westwood; by his sisters Kathy McKillop of Woburn, MA, his twin Martha Carnes of Georgetown, TX, and Maureen Trodden of Melbourne, FL; by his stepchildren Elisabeth Fritz and her husband Jeff of Reston, VA; and by Christopher Davy and his wife Cheryl, of Huntersville, NC; by his step grandchildren: Emily, Matthew, and Andrew Fritz; Aidan, Cole, Chase and Noah Davy; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
After a successful career in corporate technology at State Street Bank, Boston, Don retired to engage in his passion for making art. As his painting talent evolved, he showed his work in many different galleries and gathered collectors - he was the real deal. Don and Susan owned and operated the Dragonfly Art Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard, MA for five years, representing over 30 artists. In his art as in his life, Don was open to so much experience. Don sailed the oceans of New England for many years. He loved the sea, the sky, the salt air, which are reflected in many of his earlier paintings.
When Don and Susan moved to Sarasota in 2016 Don found a circle of great friends to play golf with. His gleeful first hole-in-one in 2019 was followed by another in 2020.
Don was honorable, kind, warm, talented and very funny, with a merry twinkle in his eye and a contagious laugh. He valued his relationships with friends and family over everything else, and was the ultimate host and foodie. Don was so proud of his family and his heritage, which extended to Robert the Bruce, along with other Kings and Queens of Scotland.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Your Traditions Funeral Home, Sarasota, Fl.
For further details visit
yourtraditionsfuneralhome.com. A virtual memorial celebration of Don’s life will be held at a later date, to be determined.
Gifts in lieu of flowers may be sent in honor of Don McKillop to Embracing Our Differences PO Box 2559, Sarasota, Florida, 34230-2559 or to
embracingourdifferences.org. Please earmark your gift to the Art Supplies Fund. Alternatively, please make a gift to the charity of your choice in Don’s name.
May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rain fall soft upon you and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.