Ragone, Donald E.

DELMAR - Donald E. Ragone, 83, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family following an 18-year battle with prostate cancer on Sunday, December 18, 2022. He was born in 1939, the son of the late Donald A. Ragone and Marion (Stewart) Weidman. Donald was raised in Albany by his grandparents Leonard and Catherine Ragone. He graduated from Phillip Schuyler High School in 1958 and served in the National Guard from 1955-1964 where he worked in communications. He also attended Hudson Valley Community College and took many courses to become an electrical designer at Niagara Mohawk where he designed transmissions and substations for over 40 years.

During his tenure at Niagara Mohawk, he was a member of the I.B.E.W. Local 1385 Union for 32 years, serving as both Vice President and President. He advocated for and won many benefits for the union members. Donald was also a member of First Presbyterian Church of Albany.

Donald enjoyed golfing, tennis, downhill skiing, waterskiing, traveling, and boating on Lake George. After his retirement he became an avid golfer, playing 6-7 days a week. He was in the Nimo Golf League at Schenectady Muni Golf Course from the early 1990’s until 2016. He was an active member at both Colonie Country Club during the summer and Hidden Lakes Golf Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida during the winter.

On May 30, 1970, he married Stephanie Winters from Garrattsville, NY. They lived in Delmar, where they raised their two children. Throughout the years, they enjoyed many sporting activities and traveling together. They traveled across the US and to several different countries. His favorite trip was visiting Montemorra, Italy where his grandfather was born and raised.

Donald’s greatest passion was his children and grandchildren. He attended all his grandson’s important moments including Revolutionary War Re-enactments and track and cross country meets. He was very proud of all his children’s and grandsons’ accomplishments. He was always on-call when a grandson needed him, and he played a major role in their childhoods.

Donald is survived by his wife Stephanie Winters Ragone; daughter Alison Ragone Ballou and her husband Shawn; son Brien Ragone and his wife Eileen; and beloved grandchildren Charles Ragone, Maxwell Ballou, Thomas Ragone, and Calvin Ballou. He is also survived by his siblings Dawn LeFevre (late-Ray) and John Weidman (Kathy); in-laws Judith Ragone, Timothy Winters (Patricia), Cynthia Winters d’Amboise (Daniel), and Janet Winters (Lee Thomassen) and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Ragone.

Donald wrote, “Most of all he loved his family and wanted them to enjoy life, wishing them all a wonderful life, smiling together”.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 28 at 11:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, Inc., 490 Delaware Avenue, Albany on Tuesday December 27, from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Prostate Cancer Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 7015, Albert Lea MN 56007-8015 or to benefit tutoring services at Wizard’s Wardrobe, 20 Rensselaer St, Albany, NY 12202. Interment will be held in the spring at Butternut Valley Cemetery, Burlington, NY.