Donald Edward Musselman, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Fort Pierce, Florida, on August 12, 2020, after a recurring battle with Cancer. While he will be greatly missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that Don was strong in his faith and has now gone home to be with Jesus.

Don/Dad/Pops/Muss 1/Mr. Muss was born on July 4, 1935 to Joseph P Musselman, Jr and Mary Rose Musselman (McCusker) in Lambertville, NJ.

Don was predeceased by his parents Joseph P. (Jr) and Mary Musselman and his brother Joseph P. Musselman III. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Linda Musselman, their five children (and spouses) Jeffrey J Musselman (Karen) of Newport Beach, CA; Gregory S Musselman (Paulette) of Port St Lucie, FL; Kelly A Corcione (Anthony) of Howell, NJ; Casey L Musselman of Fort Pierce, FL; and Cory L Musselman (Amanda) of Fort Pierce, FL. He leaves behind his cherished twelve grandchildren (and spouse) Jordan S Musselman (Bridget) of Fairfax, VA; Jacob E Musselman of Fairfax, VA; Alexandra A, Madeline R, and Ella G Musselman of Newport Beach, CA; Cristian A, Connor J, and Cassidy L Corcione of Howell, NJ; and Alexis P, Haidyn K, Maxson B, and Iszaac A Musselman of Fort Pierce, FL. Don is also survived by several cousins, many nieces and nephews and his best friend Bruce F. Mulford (Mary).

Don attended Lambertville High School for the first 3 years of high school where he was a catcher on the baseball team and a goalie on the soccer team, and attended Hunterdon Central High School for his senior year, graduating in 1953. He went on to study Physical Education at Panzer College. During Don’s years at Panzer he was Junior Class President and Student Government President. He played freshman basketball, varsity soccer and varsity baseball and graduating from Panzer College in 1957. He also went on to receive his Master’s degree +30 from Georgian Court College.

After graduation, Don’s first job was as a physical education teacher at Ocean Road Elementary School in Point Pleasant, NJ. It was during this time that Don met Linda Lengyel, and they wed on July 15, 1961. Don and Linda moved to New Hope, Pa., where Don was hired as Athletic Director at Solebury School.

In 1968, Don made the decision to join the Toms River “Powerhouse” of Sports, joining the TR High School South staff where he worked in physical education and coached wrestling.

He later became Athletic Director at Toms River North High School in Toms River, NJ where he instituted the first Shore Conference Tournaments in both Wrestling and Gymnastics.

Don went on to become Assistant Principal at Toms River South High School. He remained in that position before retiring effective July 1993. At the time of retirement, Don and his wife Linda were living in Lanoka Harbor, NJ. A few years later they moved to southeast Florida to escape the cold winters and enjoy retired life in the sunshine state. Don was not yet ready to completely retired and he even took a job as a Bridge Operator in Hobe Sound. It took a couple of years before Don learned how to truly live as a retired person which included spending long afternoons chatting with his neighbors in the pool, fishing with his younger grandchildren and telling corny jokes, and occasionally catching a spring training game at the Met’s Spring Training field in Port St Lucie. Don and Linda moved around the Treasure Coast looking for their ‘paradise’, and even opted for a home on wheels for 2 years, taking to the road and traveling across the United States, visiting popular tourist locations and family and friends along the way, before returning to live permanently in Florida. Their daughter Casey moved back with them to Port St Lucie Fl, and the three of them relocated to the current home in Fort Pierce in 2018.

Throughout his professional career and until the day he died, Don was and will be remembered for his deep care for the future of our youth. As a high school employee and administrator Don/Mr. Muss would go above and beyond to provide guidance to any student that he met, becoming a lifelong mentor to many of them. Many years later he was still receiving notes from his friends, bringing him up to date on their families and achievements, or just to thank him once again for caring.

Don was unendingly proud of all five of his children and 12 of his grandchildren, and remained deeply interested in what each of them was up to until his very last breath. He provided a source of encouragement and gave his full support to each of them in their life choices, schools, activities, and sports that they were part of, attending as many of the events that they participated in as he could. On any given day, Don could be seen proudly wearing a t-shirt of the schools, colleges, sports programs, and even careers of his children and grandchildren. Don was a diehard Atlanta Braves fan, as well as a Philadelphia Eagles enthusiast, and watching the teams compete was one of his favorite pastimes.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation in the name of Donald E Musselman be made to the P4 Foundation which provides support, hope, and faith-filled encouragement, as well as tips for health and wellness to children and their families impacted by childhood cancers.

Notes of sympathy may be sent to the Musselman family at 5209 Eagle Dr., Fort Pierce, FL 34951. Due to the current situation in regards to Covid 19, Don’s family has decided to hold a memorial service celebrating Don’s life at a date and location to be determined.

P4 Foundation would like to thank the Musselman family for their generosity to the foundation during this difficult time and for the support they are helping us to provide to the many children and families we have been and will be aiding in their fight against childhood cancers.

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