Donald A. Bessette

Donald Albert Bessette, 55, of Chaplin, CT died in a tragic accident on December 8, 2012. Don lived in the local area all of his life. After graduating from E.O.Smith High School, he worked at the University of Connecticut until his recent retirement. He loved sports and played softball for many years from the time he was in school until this past year. He played alongside his brothers, friends, nephews and most recently his grandsons. His greatest love though was fishing. From the time his grampy snuck him out of school to spend the day on the Connecticut River to the more recent times when his passion turned to salt water fishing and the shore of Rhode Island. He would take friends and family alike aboard his boat to spend some quality hours on the water. Don also loved to travel with his wife, family, and friends and had seen much of country from Connecticut to California and more recently a trip to Italy. He leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Jan, his step-daughter, Lisa Heidtmann, his step-son, Jeffrey Diaz, and his two grandsons, Nathan and Matthew Maclure. He also leaves four sisters, Shirley Hart, Carol Santor, Beverly Bessette, and Nancy Rychling and their spouses. Also Don leaves three brothers, William, Danny and David and their spouses. In addition to his siblings, he leaves many, many nieces, nephews and friends who will sorely miss him and the time spent with him. We will all miss our fishing buddy, ball player, hunter, helper, husband and friend. His family will receive relatives and friends on Friday Dec. 14, 2012 between 1:00 and 3:00pm with a Memorial Service beginning at 3:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Please omit flowers. Memorial donations are suggested to Project Oceanography, Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossette Rd., Groton, CT. 06330, Attn: Skye Lance. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .