Donald R. Sutton

Died: October 14, 2023
Family / Friend of St. Mike's

Donald R. Sutton, South Burlington, VT, died October 14, 2023. Don, known as “Pappy” to his Fire and Rescue students, was perhaps best-known as founder of Saint Michael’s College Fire and Rescue, one of the College’s most renowned programs and among the best-established Fire and Rescue programs in the region, if not the country. Don spearheaded the initiative to build the current home of Fire & Rescue on Route 15, and the Don Sutton Fire and Rescue Scholarship honors Don’s long and exemplary service.

He began his 26-year career at Saint Michael’s as associate director of food services in 1967, and later held many other positions, including dean of men, acting director of the physical plant and the College’s first special events director. In 1980, he became director of safety and security, a position he held until his retirement in June of 1993.

The College granted him an Honorary Degree in 1972. He also was a past president of the Vermont Firefighters Association and honorary member of many fire departments Most important to Don was his long service as Chief of Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue. Don made a gift of himself to the College and its students, placing himself on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day and never living more than a mile from campus.

After becoming Catholic with the help of his friend Fr. Ray Doherty ’51, S.S.E., Don was very active with the Knights of Columbus and served terms as state deputy and state master of the 4th Degree Knights. In the 1980s he worked with the Knights and many others from the College to raise money and build a chapel at Camp Holy Cross. When Holy Cross closed, he worked with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for children with cancer, to raise funds to move the Holy Cross chapel to that camp’s location in South Hero. Don and other volunteers moved the chapel, literally piece by piece, to its new home in 2014. The College Alumni Association soon after honored Don with the Rev. John Verret Good Citizen Award in 2015. Don also played a pivotal role in creating a premature infant transport program in 1973 to bring infants from outlying hospitals to the neonatal unit at the University of Vermont Medical Center. He also worked for many years at Pete’s RV in South Burlington.

Don’s wife, Rose, died in 2011.

Follow us on social.

Youvisit Pixel