Donald Richard Eastman

Donald Richard Eastman died peacefully on March 18, 2023, in Hudson, Massachusetts. He was 88 years old and lived his entire life on Forest Avenue in Hudson. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Edwina “Eddy” Oksa Eastman, his daughter Dawna Eastman-Gallo and her husband Donald Gallo, his daughter Tina Pitre and her husband David Pitre, and his daughter Erika Eastman. He is also survived  by his grandchildren: Stanley Krol, Wendy Krol Holden and her husband Michael Holden, Timothy Krol, and several grandcats. His first great-grandchild, Carter Holden, was born in 2022 and also survives him. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Lorraine Eastman, and several nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his parents, Roscoe Eastman and Emily Brown Eastman, and by his beloved brother Paul Eastman.

Don graduated from Hudson High School in 1952 and had a long career in banking, spending more than 30 years as a mortgage officer at Marlborough Savings Bank. He had many, many diverse interests and talents, including being an avid gardener of vegetables, blueberries, and flowers, building things with wood, and designing and building signs for the Methodist Church and bluebird houses for the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. He always had a bouquet of homegrown flowers in a vase on the kitchen table for Edwina. He and Eddy hosted many family cookouts, where he grilled amazing burgers and was a master at raucous family croquet. Christmas would have him regaling the family with “Crazy Christmas” gifts of mischievous origin.

Don was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Hudson, where he taught Sunday school for more than 25 years, and where the sign he crafted remains out front. He was very witty and loved to make people laugh, always with a big grin and a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Hudson at 11 a.m. on Tuesday March 21, 2023. Burial will follow in Forestvale Cemetery, Broad Street, Hudson. Please join the family following internment back to the United Methodist Church reception hall for refreshments. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Church or to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.