Donald M. Satava

DONALD M. SATAVA                       

Donald M. Satava passed into eternal rest on March 12, 2021.  He was born March 13, 1930 to the late Joseph and Alice Satava in Bedford, Ohio.  He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years Joan A. Satava (nee Myers).  Left to cherish his memory are his brother Robert Satava of Macedonia, OH; nephew Bob Satava of Willoughby, OH; three children: Stephen (Frances) of Yorktown, VA; James (Katie) of Ringoes, NJ; and Karen Harnar (John) of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; four grandchildren: Stephen II (Lauren), Joseph (Kelly), Jason (Emma) and Angela (Nicholas); and three great-grandchildren: Jude, Eleanor, and Grayson.

Don was a 1947 graduate of Bedford High School and a 1951 graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.  He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served two years during the Korean conflict as an instructor at Ft Belvoir, VA.  After the Army he worked a short time for the US Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio and then was hired as an engineer for Pipe Machinery Co. in Wickliffe OH.  In 1957 he became supervisor of the Gage Engineering Department and was awarded two U.S. patents for original designs of machine tools.  In 1975 he moved to be Metrology Laboratory Supervisor for Technicare Corporation, later a division of Johnson and Johnson, a position he held for ten years before returning to Pipe Machinery and finally retiring.  He then started his own consulting business, Thread Gage Information Service, and mentored young engineers for several more years.

Don was an avid outdoorsman and liked to play golf, hunt, and fish the lakes and rivers of Ohio and Canada.  He was an exceptional marksman and won numerous meets and awards in small bore rifle shooting.  He was Ohio state champion several times and set the world two-man team record with Robert Koski in 1954 which stood for ten years.  Don and Joan were long-time members of the Pymatuning Century Club and spent many enjoyable hours sailing their Flying Scot sailboat on Pymatuning Lake. 

Don was a Master Mason for over 50 years, rose to the rank of 32nd degree and was the master of the Golden Gate Lodge #245 in Chagrin Falls five times.  Don was also a member of Windermere Council of Royal and Select Masons, Chagrin Falls Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and he was a Knight of the York Cross of Honor, which means that he was the head of all four bodies: Golden Gate Lodge, Chagrin Falls Chapter, Windermere Council and Oriental Commandery.    

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Ohman Family Living at Holly Hill in Newbury for their kind and compassionate care of Don in his final years. 

His earthly journey will conclude with a Masonic funeral at 11:00 AM on May 28, 2021 at Kindrich-McHugh Steinbauer Funeral Home, 33375 Bainbridge Rd, Solon, Ohio, followed by interment at All Saints Cemetery in Northfield OH.  The family will receive friends before the funeral, starting at 10:00 AM.  Current Ohio COVID protocols will be followed.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Flying Scot Sailing Association (FSSA)  at https://www.fssa.com/join-renew-donate.  The FSSA has established The Flying Scot Foundation to allow members and friends to make tax-deductible gifts and bequests of lasting significance that will help assure the long-term viability and vitality of the Flying Scot® class.  Flying Scot Sailing Association,  One Windsor Cove, Suite 305,  Columbia, SC 29223

Arrangements by Stroud~Lawrence Funeral Home Chagrin Falls, OH. www.stroudlawrence.com

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