Longtime Portville Coach, Umpire, and Mentor Donald E.
Jordan, 72, of 1528 Portville-Obi Road, passed away Monday evening at Olean
General Hospital after complications from COVID-19.
Born on March 21, 1948, in Olean he was a son of Alvin and
Mary Carlson Jordan. He is survived by
his wife of 44 years the former Annette A. Pichur.
Don was a graduate of Portville Central School Class of 1966
and then graduated from Jamestown Community College with an Associate’s Degree
in Business Administration.
Don has had many, many work experiences, including
McGraw-Edison, Dresser Industries, PC laboratories, and What Sounds Good. He retired in 2015 from BOCES, where he was a
student and classroom aid, which he felt was probably his “calling in
life”. In retirement he substituted at
Portville Central School.
Don’s coaching career started in 1982 as a T-Ball coach and
that lead to his Little League involvement that lasted over 35 years. Hundreds of children were lucky to have him
as a coach and loved him like a grandfather.
Holding various offices, he served as President of Portville Little
League, District 2 Little League Administrator, was a Board member of the NYS
District 2 Administration Association, Umpired 9 Regional Little League
Softball Tournaments, and was a member of the Portville Football Chain Gang. He was also a member of the Portville
Conservation Club, Olean Rod & Gun Club, and Portville Central School
Sports Booster.
Having many accomplishments in life, he carried the torch
for the 2002 Winter Olympics, was inducted in the Cattaraugus County Sports
Hall of Fame in 2012, was tapped to umpire the Big League Softball World Series
in 2015, Ushered for the Little League World Series for 15 years, and was even
able to fit in coaching a Little League Championship game the morning of his
wedding, later which his players attended.
He also served as the Town of Genesee Supervisor for four years.
Bill Torrey who he coached Portville Central High School
Softball with for 10 years was able to summarize Don’s life perfect for the
family when he said “Don was a staple in Portville Community and made a
difference in so many people’s lives. He truly embodied everything maroon and
white. Don had a huge heart, and even
bigger personality, and a laugh that could be heard a country mile.
In addition to his wife Annette he is survived by a son, Matthew
S. Jordan of Murrells Inlet, SC; a daughter April Jordan of Mesa, Arizona; his
siblings Tom (Sue) Jordan of Bolivar, Ken (Linda) Jordan of Wellsville, Neil
(Brenda) Jordan of Cumming, Georgia, Kathy (Dale) Goodell of Eldred, PA; A sister-in-law
Marsha Jordan of Mishawaka, Indiana, a brother-in-law, Kenneth (Diane) Pichur
of Delevan; Several Nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great
nieces and nephews. Special friends Deb Rogers and family and Karl and Angie
Baker and family whom affectionally referred to him as Poppa; And his beloved
Dog Ozzy.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by A brother
Wayne Jordan and a niece Kimberly Jordan.
At his request there will be no services at this time. A Memorial Service will be held sometime this
summer at a date and time to be announced.
Arrangements are under direction of the Mark F. Rinker
Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba.
Memorials may be made to INtandem, 1439 Buffalo St., Olean,
New York 14760 or to Gills Hills 2526 Brown Road, Wellsville, NY 14895.
