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Paramus Little League's Founding Father Donald Warner Dies

PARAMUS, N.J. — Donald L. Warner of Paramus died on Jan. 12 in Delray Beach, Fla. He was 93.

Donald Warner and his sons, Gary and Mike Warner, of Paramus.

Donald Warner and his sons, Gary and Mike Warner, of Paramus.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Although he made his home in the Sunshine State for 27 years, Don’s heart forever belonged to his beloved Borough of Paramus.

Although he made his home in the Sunshine State for 27 years, Don’s heart forever belonged to his beloved Borough of Paramus.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Although he made his home in the Sunshine State for 27 years, Don’s heart forever belonged to his beloved Borough of Paramus. 

 As a founding father of the Paramus Little League in the mid-1950’s, Donny was the umpire for a generation of kids, and the “man in blue” behind the plate in the annual Fourth of July softball game between the Paramus Police and Fire Departments.

For 35 years, he umpired baseball and softball and coached basketball in his beloved borough. 

For his many years of service to youth, he was honored with the “Man of the Year Award” in 1984 by the Paramus Recreation Commission. In his last waking day, if you named a Paramus kid, he could tell you what Little League team he played on and what position he played. 

Those were his greatest memories. For his many contributions to the national pastime, Don was named to the Bergen County Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

A 1942 graduate of East Orange High School, Don worked 40 years for Galsworthy, a division of Reitman Industries, then New Jersey’s leading distributor of wine and spirits. 

He is survived by his beloved Dolly; his sons, Dr. Michael Warner and his wife Susan of Point Pleasant, and Gary Warner of Paramus; and his grandchildren Timothy, Tara and Katie.

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