Obituary of Donald H. Zogalo

With heavy hearts we announce the death of Donald Howard Zogalo (Nick) on Friday, August 8, 2025. He was the much-loved husband and best friend to Marlene (Evans) for 69 years, loving father to Deborah Zogalo of Kanata, Don Zogalo Jr. (Lynda) of Richmond, Papa to his cherished grandsons, Jamie (Victoria) of Ottawa and Cody of Michigan, and a proud Great Papa to Noah.

Don was born and raised in Newmarket and moved with his family to Ottawa in 1971. He worked for Export Development Corporation (EDC) for 28 years in various accounting departments until he retired in 1996.

Don was a kind man, and a man of great integrity. He believed in giving back to others because as a youth he received much assistance and mentorship. He believed it is not how long you lived in years, but what you did with those years that mattered.

In his younger years, Don coached, officiated and assigned referees for Nepean. He loved sports, whether participating, coaching or officiating, and throughout his life he was always involved in hockey, baseball, skiing, curling and golfing. As a teenager, his hockey team (Newmarket Gorman Smoke Rings) won the Ontario Bantam Championship.

Don and Marlene moved from Nepean to Stittsville in 1984 and, wanting to make a difference by giving back to his community, he joined the Stittsville District Lions Club in 1985. He volunteered for all projects and held all club positions in Stittsville, as well as serving on the Lions District A-4 cabinet as Cabinet Secretary, Diabetes Chair, worked on MDA’s Lions magazine and audited the District’s financial books. Don received many awards and, as Governor of Eastern Ontario, he was responsible for just under 2,000 Lions members. As such, he was particularly proud to receive the 100% Governor’s Award for District A-4. Don participated in a humanitarian project with the Brockville Lions Club in Belarus and he established a Lions Club there to help the people of Chaussy, Belarus, who were still deeply affected by the Chernobyl disaster. In his last three years, he transferred to the Barrhaven Lions, marking almost 40 years as a Lions member.

Don also gave freely of his time to the Stittsville Food Bank and served on Goulbourn Township’s Non-Profit Housing, and he was president for five years.

One of Don’s greatest joys in life was travelling. He especially enjoyed his 80 cruises! However, he was always happy to return to Canada.

Don lived a full and rewarding life having completed his bucket list. His time on Earth was well spent, and it’s a better place for having had him in it.

At Don’s request, there will not be a funeral service, but a gathering of family for interment at the Newmarket Cemetery in Newmarket, Ontario at a later date.

 

 

After Glow

I’d like the memory of me

to be a happy one,

I’d like to leave an afterglow

of smiles when life is done,

I’d like to leave an echo

whispering softly down the ways,

of happy times and laughing times

and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve,

to dry before the sun,

of happy memories that I leave,

when my life is done.

 

Author: Helen Lowie Marshall