Donald J. Pritchard, age 73, of Niles Road, Ellicottville, died Saturday (Oct. 17, 2009) at Buffalo General Hospital following a long illness.
Born on Sept. 23, 1936, in Cattaraugus, he was the son of the late Julian and Margretta Pritchard.
Mr. Pritchard was married Oct. 1, 1977, in Salamanca to the former Cathleen Corneluis, who survives.
He was a graduate of Cattaraugus High School, Class of 1954, and a veteran serving in the United States Army in Germany. He was employed as a construction superintendent for more than 40 years working with firms such as L.C. Whitford, Barnes Construction and John Luther and Son. Among his various projects, he was most proud of his work with the Olympic bobsled run at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. Other well-known area structures he was involved in constructing included the Cattaraugus County building and jail in Little Valley, the Olean Center Mall and Jamestown High School, as well as building his own former home in Killbuck, New York.
Mr. Pritchard was the first Democratic mayor of Little Valley, serving during the early 1970s and had recently served on the Zoning Board with the Town of Ellicottville. He was a member of the Ellicottville Rotary and the Carpenters Union Local 66, where he had served as past president.
He volunteered with the Salvation Army, Ameri Tool and the Ellicottville Memorial Library. He also served as construction consultant with various Ellicottville homeowners associations.
He was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed the outdoors. He was an avid golfer and member of Holiday Valley.
Surviving besides his wife, are three daughters, Pandora (Steven) Young of Prescott Valley, Ariz., Sonya (Kevin) Keenen of Little Valley and Melanie (Darin Wiechman) Pritchard of Ellicottville; two sons, Major Donald J. Pritchard of the USMC in Jacksonville N.C. and Craig (Sharon) Pritchard of Staatsburg, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; three brothers, Frank (Elizabeth) Pritchard of Oxford, Fla., Kerry Pritchard of Summer-field, Fla., and Orv Pritchard of Titusville, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River St., Salamanca.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Route 219, N. El-licottville, with the Pastor William Kay officiating.
Full military honors will be performed by the American Legion Post 659 Ellicottville.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Donald J. Pritchard Mesothelioma Trust, Five Star Bank and Trust, 54 Washington St., Ellicottville.