Donald Clark McAlpine of North Richland Hills, Texas, passed away March 19, 2023 at the age of 67. He fought cancer so valiantly and so hard for four years, and now he has completed the fight. He passed away exactly where he wanted to be, looking out at the Gulf with his precious dog Sheelah who never left his side, as well as his beloved grandpuppy Texas with whom he shared many late nights in his cancer fight, his wife and three sons holding him and helping him cross that bridge.

Don was born on September 30, 1955 in San Diego, California, and moved to Seattle, Washington when he was a young boy. He loved working with his Pappa Jack at the lumber yard and at the beach cabin. That is where his love of the ocean began.

He was an Eagle Scout at the young age of 13 and his reputation of being a fabulous cook started then! When all the other boy scouts had hot dogs on the campfire, Don had marinated shish kebobs!

Don worked for the Bon Marche department store as a young man. He was the HR guy, and was called ''Dr. Feelgood'', because he had a way with people that made them thank him when he had just fired them! He had a way of looking at a situation like no other. He called it his backward vision, finding the solution by looking at the problem backwards, like with a maze. Start at the finish and find how you get there by working backwards. What a concept!

In 1985 he married the love of his life, Suzi. They shared 37 wonderful years together, side by side. Their fairy tale started with a blind date and they married 9 months later. Don already had a son, Donnie, from his previous marriage, and together he and Suzi had two boys, Thomas and Duncan. The three of them were the focus of his life, his pride, his joy, his passion. He gave up a promising career to be present in their lives as they grew up. They moved to Texas in 1996. He would like to say that he was not born in Texas, but got here as quick as he could.

As the boys grew up, Don shared their love of baseball, was a coach to them, photographer capturing so many amazing moments, but always their biggest fan. He has a spirit that always pushed to excellence, always looking for ways to be better, never being okay with just participating or being average. He taught everyone around him to always be their best, and helped them achieve more than they thought they could. He touched many young men's lives thru his baseball coaching. He was so very proud of all his Panthers he coached, most of whom went on to play high school varsity baseball as sophomores, and even had leadership roles on college teams across the country. He loves you Panthers so much and gave you all everything he could. He like to say that everything you needed to know about life you could learn on the baseball field - hard work, being a team player, sacrifice, winning, losing, sportsmanship, and never giving up, never quitting.

He had many adopted ''kids'' that he loved to have around, Everyone knows about Don's Café and how awesome the food was there! Never was anything catered, or bought already prepared at the store. The love was put into everything he prepared and there was a lot of it! He took pictures of everyone that came to dine at his kitchen café and proudly displayed them, covering the whole wall for all to see and remember. He would create Birthday Challenges that many would attempt, few would finish!

Don always put others before himself, was so thoughtful in gifts he gave and the love he shared. He had high expectations and encouraged us all to achieve and do the right thing, even when it is the hardest thing to do. He will be sorely missed, but honored every day as we love each other.

He is preceded in death by his father, William Currie McAlpine. He is survived by his wife, Suzi, his sons, Donnie, Thomas and Duncan, and his mother Jann, and his two beautiful granddaughters Skylar and Carmen.

As he would want, we will be having an open house BBQ in his honor to celebrate his life. This will happen in early June in North Richland Hills at the home he shared with Suzi and raised his family in and fed the crowds of friends. Nothing will be store bought, just like he would want. Details will follow.

We love you Dad!
We love you Coach Don!
We love you G!
Brave and Strong!



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Don's favorite charities:
Wounded Warrior Project
Tunnel to Towers

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