Donald E. Green

A celebration of the life of Donald E. Green, II, 66, of Novelty, will be held at 6:30 PM on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Avenue, Willoughby.

The family will receive friends from 3:30-6:30 PM on Thursday, prior to the service.

Born May 1, 1956 in Toledo, he has lived in Russell Twp for the past 23 years where he passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Don was well known for his passion for sports, especially football and horse racing, dogs/dogs agility, and the outside. He graduated from Maumee High School in 1974, earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Ohio University, and a Master's Degree in Education from Bowling Green State University. He was an avid University of Michigan and long suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

He and a group of dearly beloved friends attended The Kentucky Derby for over 35 years, and several joined him to chase the Triple Crown at the Preakness and Belmont. Later he loved his trips to Saratoga Race Course.

After retirement, his focus shifted to his dogs and dog agility sports, where he transferred his teaching/coaching skills to the agility world. Many dogs and students have passed through his doors to go on to achieve titles and awards - all with Don's help.

At the time of his death, he was a member of the North East Ohio English Cocker Spaniel Fanciers club as well as the National English Cocker Spaniel Association. In his early days of teaching and coaching he was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Elks, and was an avid Boy Scout in his youth.

Don was employed as a math teacher and coach, most recently at Beachwood City Schools. His career started in Paulding, Ohio and he first became a Head Coach in Jamestown, Ohio - home of the Greeneview Rams, where he had a successful championship season. He also taught and coached at Carroll High School and Beavercreek City Schools, as well as serving on the coaching staff at the University of Dayton for several seasons, including their run to a Division III National Championship in 1989. He retired in 2010 after 30 years of service.

Survivors are his wife of 36 years, April R. Siegel-Green; sisters, Sue Green and Kathleen (Jo) Green-Odawara; brother, Jim (Rosie) Green; nieces and nephews, Amy (Vince) Green Lanza, Hana Odawara, Ben Odawara, Samantha DeJesus, and Samuel Siegel; mother-in-law, Ann Kitchen and brother-in-law, Raymond (Victoria) Siegel, III as well as cousins and a host of friends whom Don called family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald E. and Ruth C. (Dunstan) Green and father-in-law, Raymond Siegel, Jr. and stepfather-in-law, James Kitchen.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions in memory of Don Green to Rescue Village, P.O Box 116, Novelty, Ohio or https://www.rescuevillage.org/.