Donald passed away peacefully on Monday, April 24, 2023, with family at his side after a brief illness. He was 81. Donald was a brilliant man and kind father; an academic mind with hands that could build or fix just about anything.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Jane Fuller, his sons Daniel Fuller and Michael Fuller (Amy), grandchildren Margaret Fuller, Kathryn Fuller, Georgia Fuller and Zoe Compton, and brother David Fuller (Joan). He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Thelma Fuller.
Donald was born in Cleveland, OH on November 7, 1941. A Georgia Tech graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management, he went on to earn an MBA from the University of Toledo and a Ph. D from Georgia State University. A true polymath, Donald also sang and played guitar in the “Wolf Pack” — an early rock ‘n’ roll band — during his college years.
He married wife Jane (Mulligan) in 1968 in Atlanta. After serving in the U.S. Army and U.S. Reserves as a commissioned officer for six years, Donald taught marketing at the University of Central Florida in Orlando for 30 years (1972 – 2001). In parallel, he ran a market-research consulting firm which included Circus World and Sun Bank as his clients.
Donald was also a pioneer in the field of sustainability; publishing one of the first — if not the first — academic textbooks titled “Sustainable Marketing: Managerial-Ecological Issues” in 1999.
Though he suffered a stroke in 2001, Donald was able to maintain an active life for the next 22 years; including plenty of travel, cooking, reading, furniture refinishing, fixing things, dining and spending time with his grandchildren.
Wake and visitation will be held Thursday, May 4 at 6:00 – 8:00 pm. At DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751.
Funeral mass will be held Friday, May 5 at 10:00 am. At St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 526 N. Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. Reception to follow mass.
Cemetery service will be held Friday, May 5 at 2:00 pm. At Queen of Angels Cemetery, 1901 Queen of Angels Drive, Winter Park, FL 32792.