Donald Riley

Donald “Don” Eugene Riley, age 91, of Orlando, Florida, died Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 24, 2021, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton, Iowa. A Masonic ceremony will proceed the service starting at 10:45 a.m. Friends may greet the family from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 24, 2021, at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton prior to the service. Internment will immediately follow the service at the New Hampton City Cemetery. Don was born on September 24, 1929, to Alvin L. and Eva L. (Nesfield) Riley in New Hampton, Iowa. Don fondly recalled growing up in New Hampton with summers spent in Clear Lake and Knife River, Minnesota. He was a 1948 graduate of New Hampton High School. After graduation, Don attended Iowa State University. During this time his summers were spent in Waterloo, Iowa where he enjoyed living with his grandmother, Jessie Riley, while interning at John Deere Company. It was there that he met his future wife, Patricia (Pat) Alexander, a lifeguard at the local YMCA. After a brief courtship they were married on March 14, 1953. They enjoyed a lengthy two-month honeymoon camping and exploring in Florida. Eventually, the draft board caught up with Don, he was drafted and spent 2 years in the Army as an instructor during the Korean War. Don and Pat loved adventure and new experiences and over their married life they lived in 9 states; from Virginia to California, Louisiana and many in between. They explored each and raised children Ann, Susan, and Sally across the United States. Don had a successful career. After receiving degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the University of Iowa and completing all Ph.D. level coursework, he taught at numerous universities and worked at various high-tech companies focusing on development of analog and digital computers. Accomplishments included: Group Team member conceiving the first hybrid computer to guide the Atlas missile (1957); Team leader of the Atomic Energy Commission’s hybrid computer (1963); Technical Advisor for NASA’s hybrid computer (1966) to reduce data received from the moon in support of the first moon landing in 1969; Inventor of Chrysler’s emissions-control computer. He acquired five patents. Despite these accomplishments, when asked his profession, Don always pointed out his real passion saying he was an “old college professor”. Don’s favorite pastimes were being with his family, traveling, and sailing. During his lifetime he was fortunate to have sailed in nearly every body of water that touched the continental United States. Don had a long life and was genuinely thankful for all the blessings he received. He fondly remembered his loving, silly relationship with his mother and the support he received from his father. Pat was the love of his life, and he continued to think of her daily during the 13 years he was without her. His daughters were his support, and he loved sharing stories about them with everyone he met. He loved each of his grandchildren dearly; they will miss all his “stories”, and he was overjoyed to finally get those great-grandchildren he was fond of asking for. Don often thought of his “Big Brother” Al and his “Baby Sister” Jane and loved to reminisce about his many nephews, nieces and their families. Don touched the lives of many - from the students and employees who he mentored to those whose lives he touched daily with a joke and a kind smile. Don is survived by daughters: Ann (John) Riley-Gawura of East Lansing, MI, Susan (David) Jesse of Orlando, FL and Sally (David) Bennett of Concord, NC; seven grandchildren, Katherine (James) Browning, Kristin (Jeb) Geesey, Nicholas Gawura, Allison Gawura, Elizabeth Bennett, Jessica Bennett, and Abigail Bennett; three great-grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Patricia on November 13, 2008. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases at: https://www.nfid.org/