DONALD CUMMISKEY

DECEMBER 31, 1945 - NOVEMBER 17, 2022

On November 17, 2022, the Lord called Donald Cummiskey home and without doubt, was welcomed through the gates of heaven with open arms.    Donald peacefully passed while comforted by his two favorite caretakers, his wife Lorraine of 57-years (aka Nurse Ratchet 1) and his daughter Jennifer (aka Nurse Ratchet 2).

Donald Cummiskey was born and raised on Somerset Street, in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.  If you didn't know, he would be sure to tell you because he was so proud of his upbringing, being one of 16-children to Edward and Laura Cummiskey.   While he learned heartache at a young age with the loss of his parents, it formed him in ways that would provide the foundation of his life.  He and his younger siblings, were then raised by their older siblings, continued his father's work in huckstering, learned to be independent and resourceful to survive and by far, valued his family and relationships.  As we begin the grieving process as a family, the one common sentiment received, from the hundreds of those that are also mourning his loss, is what a kind, generous, hard-working family man he was, who would do anything in the world for you at a moment's notice.  This is a great loss for so many that he has touched in his lifetime, and he made it look so easy.  His richness was abundant not in the material things, but in the simplicity of loving his family and simply being a good man.

On September 18, 1965, Donald married the love of his life, his bride, his sweetheart, Lorraine (Horner) and began their life together leaving Port Richmond for the Northeast.  Who knew it would be there, that they would raise their family of five, live for the next 57-years and ultimately, where he would take his last breath.  No place was more fitting.  He loved his home, his parish of St. Timothy's where all of his kids attended.  Home was the place where all his children, in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchild would come to visit and he would proudly sit back and say, "Lorraine, we did this".  During those years, there were weddings, funerals, births, deaths, holidays and more and always, he'd welcome you into his home with, "did ja eat"?  He loved to cook, and he was so good at it.  His famous "duke specials", "Cummiskey fried chicken", fresh French fries, Chicken Parm, his big roasts with mashed potatoes and salads he'd create with lettuce, olive oil and garlic salt, would taste like the best salad you'd ever ate.  He was particular with his food, didn't like Acme produce, had to buy Jersey tomatoes and blueberries only in season, then freeze them for the winter.  He was the master of great cheese from 9 ^th street, with Sarcone's rolls dipped with the slightest bit of olive oil and red pepper flakes.  His holiday signature meals were his kielbasa from Swiackies and his Italian wedding soup and of course, fresh rolls.  Rolls always had to be fresh, always two dozen picked up the same day and freeze them when done.   Standing in the kitchen cooking, an opened Miller Lite, oldies on the radio and a kitchen towel over his shoulder then serving the food, hovering over each of us, asking if it was good, pouring on gravy even when we didn't want it, ready to give seconds at a moment's notice.  These were the little things that made him so happy.

Donald's children, Don, Michael, Karen, Billy and Jennifer, grew up witnessing a man who worked harder than anyone they'd ever come to know.  Never a complaint, food on the table, Catholic tuitions paid and though he was at times not around because of his endless work hours and physically demanding truck driving job, his presence was felt and feared.  He had high expectations of how a family should treat each other and others.  He always did his best to be at any game he could, even coached baseball in his younger years, never missed an event, and even after driving his big-rig truck for 15-hours, would get up at a moment's notice and drive us anywhere we needed to go.  Basketball was a big part of his kid's and grandkid's lives and to this day, we believe he didn't know a single rule or even liked the sport or cared if we were great or average.  He never missed a game…he was there!  His selflessness was the hallmark of his being and grew even wider when his children married Maryann, Cristina, Ray, Dawn and Phil, and grandkids came along.    Billy, Julia, Matthew, Cailey, Kaitlin, Gavin, Liam, Samantha, Jacob and Chase were the pride and joy of his life.  His heart was so big, and he opened it up even more, as if his very own, to Andrew, Alexa, Logan, Dean, Olivia and Trinity.   And then comes along baby Riley, his great-grand daughter, his pork chop.  The look of love he had for this little baby would take your breath away.   His life as a grandfather was beautiful to watch and each child will tell you, they were his favorite, because each one had such an amazing relationship with him.  He was even more present in their lives, which he truly enjoyed because it made up for things he missed with his own children when working.  He instilled not only in his children, but his grandchildren, that "if you ain't got family, you ain't got shit".  He was quite the man of words, often times mispronounced, misspelled, couldn't work any electronics, wasn't exactly handy but when he did speak or acted, it was with value and purpose.  He was a listener first, spoke second, was hysterical with his one liners, and no one said "duh" better than him.   His work ethic was the stuff of a legend, gave life to the idea to always be fair and "if you always worked hard, you would always have work".    He was very frugal, though when it came to his family, he was the first to say, "take my card, I got it" or "go out to breakfast, it's on me".   He was particular and slow with his purchases, and when receiving gifts, the first thing he always checked was the label to see if it was made in the United States.  Donald loved to dance, he was a lifelong Phillies fan, his clothing consisted of Greatest Pop Pop sweatshirts, Teamsters or Phillies shirts or he would be proudly representing every school or college his kids or grandchildren attended.  Donald often shared that he would "meditate", especially on the beach, the place that was so peaceful to him.  It was not just humans that he touched but was what we considered the "dog whisperer" to Shelby, Aria, Nala, Bowie, Milkshake and Cooper.  He never showed up without a treat and those dogs became his instant companion.    There were many, but one of Donald's greatest abilities was always being prepared with a packed  cooler, kept stocked and cold in his trunk and ready for consumption at any time.

Next to his family, Donald's love and commitment was his Teamsters 107 brotherhood.  He fought for rights, jobs, wages, and anything else that impacted the quality of union workers.  He was a force to be reckoned with, a steward, a master in his ability to drive an 18-wheeler, for over 60-years.  He was a human map and could tell you every road by name in the US, best way to get there, bridges, toll fees, diners along the way, construction to avoid and what times traffic was bad.  He was a bear to drive with and on the rare occurrence you'd have to drive him, it would usually end up with him getting kicked out of the car.  His devotion to the union, even after retirement, was so strong, never missing a union meeting.  He was an advocate and known to be a dependable, reliable friend who would do anything for you.  Without even knowing it, he taught those around him, how to have diplomacy, listen, be "firm but fair".  The Teamsters gave Donald a voice and purpose and was his life's work, and again, came with ease.  It was just the person he was.  He didn't have to try, was never anything but himself, never judged, treated everyone he knew with respect and equally, whether you were a president or the dishwasher boy at the local pizza shop.  He knew everyone, everywhere he went and if he didn't, he was the first to proudly introduce himself, usually, "I'm Pop Pop, or so and so's Dad".  He knew diner staff, coaches, priests, neighbors, friends of friends and family, the mailmen, parents, toll collectors, it was endless.  And the same was always said about him, we love your Dad / Pop Pop / Husband.  It was simple, he was simple.  Give him his "mancave", a cigar, Miller Lite, listening to the Geator, reflecting on how blessed he was,  doing his weekly check-ins, and life was grander than any riches on earth.

Cancer plagued Donald's life for over 2-decades, and yet he never ever let it define him.  He lived life full, did what it took to survive, listened to his doctors, never complained and endured so much more than anyone would probably ever know.  He was our hero, our very own Ironman, as we referred to him as.  It's just what he did and like Clint Eastwood said in his favorite movie, Heartbreak Ridge, "you adapt, you overcome, and you improvise", and that's exactly what he did. He leaned heavily on his faith, a devout Catholic, and was always peaceful in his diagnosis, especially when the options for survival were diminished.  Even then, he fought and fought, with the strength of an army.  Never faltering, never why me,  but instead, thanked his Penn doctors and all his caregivers for giving him so many years.  He continued to reflect on his life, all of his family, his friends, his siblings, his neighbors, his Teamster family and made it well known that he was blessed in his life.   He did things like Frank Sinatra, his music idol, "My Way".  And in the end, in his simple words, he said, "I'm really loved".  Yes Donald - Husband, Dad, Pop Pop, Teamster, brother, uncle, friend, neighbor, and every other person he met along his life's journey,  you truly were, and you will be forever missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing at THE EDWARD J. PETNER FUNERAL(family owned and operated), Tuesday evening November 22, 2022 at 6:00pm and again Wednesday morning November 22, 2022  8:30am to 10:00am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday morning 10:30am St. Timothy's Church 3001 Levick St. Phila. PA 19149

In lieu of flowers donations in Donald's memory may be made to http://givingpages.upenn.edu/Dove at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.