Obituary for Donald B. Chouinard Sr.
Donald Chouinard Sr., age 84, of Vernon, CT, beloved husband for 55 years to the late Diane Chouinard, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2021 at West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation. He was born on March 29, 1937 in Hartford, son of the late Arthur and Doris Chouinard. He and his wife lived in East Hartford for over 50 years.
After graduating from Bulkeley High School, he joined the Army and was known for entertaining his unit by playing the trumpet. When he got back home he continued to pursue his lifelong love for music, singing and playing trumpet and horn, with well known artists, eventually establishing his own band, Don Chouinard & Sound Revival, who performed weekly at local venues throughout New England. He would also commonly play at his own restaurant.
Donald enjoyed mystery novels and non-fiction, sometimes reading three books at a time, his favorites all displayed in his alphabetized library. He would go overboard for the holidays leaving no space undecorated by a pumpkin for Halloween or a snowman for Christmas, drawing crowds at his apartment complex looking for tours. He enjoyed a cold Bud Light Lime, first introduced to him by his grandchildren and he never turned down an Italian home cooked meal or a chocolate chip and walnut cookie.
Donald is survived by his son Kevin Chouinard and wife Jodi, his daughter Kim Pinho and husband Ismael, and his son Donald Chouinard Jr. and wife Elizabeth as well as his grandchildren Diana Chouinard, Bethany O’Brien and husband Brendan, David Pinho and wife Kelly, Derek Chouinard, Madison Chouinard, Hailey Chouinard, Mia Chouinard, and Kylie Chouinard. He also had two great grandchildren, Logan O’Brien and Lena Pinho with another one on the way.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. For online condolences, please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com.
After graduating from Bulkeley High School, he joined the Army and was known for entertaining his unit by playing the trumpet. When he got back home he continued to pursue his lifelong love for music, singing and playing trumpet and horn, with well known artists, eventually establishing his own band, Don Chouinard & Sound Revival, who performed weekly at local venues throughout New England. He would also commonly play at his own restaurant.
Donald enjoyed mystery novels and non-fiction, sometimes reading three books at a time, his favorites all displayed in his alphabetized library. He would go overboard for the holidays leaving no space undecorated by a pumpkin for Halloween or a snowman for Christmas, drawing crowds at his apartment complex looking for tours. He enjoyed a cold Bud Light Lime, first introduced to him by his grandchildren and he never turned down an Italian home cooked meal or a chocolate chip and walnut cookie.
Donald is survived by his son Kevin Chouinard and wife Jodi, his daughter Kim Pinho and husband Ismael, and his son Donald Chouinard Jr. and wife Elizabeth as well as his grandchildren Diana Chouinard, Bethany O’Brien and husband Brendan, David Pinho and wife Kelly, Derek Chouinard, Madison Chouinard, Hailey Chouinard, Mia Chouinard, and Kylie Chouinard. He also had two great grandchildren, Logan O’Brien and Lena Pinho with another one on the way.
Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. For online condolences, please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com.