Port Orange- Donald R. Beardslee (Don)
Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Friend, Animal lover, proud Army Veteran passed away at home on Friday April 19th at the age of 81. Don had a positive, strong, tenacious personality that commanded attention in every aspect of his life. At the age of 16, Don started into drag racing before entering the Service. After the Service, Don kept his passion for racing and had a nice career in New England. In 1976, he was invited to train in Italy, in Formula One cars. Moving to Florida in 1978, Don continued racing oval tracks and pursued his passion in the Law. Don worked with Attorney John D. Rue who also sponsored him in Motorcycle racing. Don had the honor of racing with his late son, Donny Jr, at Daytona International Speedway in the Paul Revere 250 endurance race. In 1993 Don returned to the oval tracks racing Sprint and Late Models. In 1988 Don married his love, his shorty, his Ace, Jani. Together, they started their first business, Fact Finders Investigative Services. Don continued to work with many law offices in his life time, helping young attorneys to build their practice, moving on to the next exciting venture. He retired a few times, only to be brought back into the law and finally retired in 2018.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Nathan and Anna Toepp Beardslee; son, Donny Jr (1995); sister, Pat (Catherine) Greene; Brother-in-law, Dennis Lariviere (2017). Don is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Jane; Daughters, Traci Leonard (husband,Myron) of Preble, NY; Casey K. Sullivan, of Granby MA; Granddaughters, Breann, Morgan and Dayla, of CT; Sister's and Brother-in-law, many nephews and nieces.