Donald James Ginder

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Donald James Ginder (73), affectionately known as Don, passed
away peacefully. After a recent mild heart attack, Don had been on the path to recovery when
his loving wife, Christine Zorich Ginder, found him deceased in his bed. He had always joked
that dying in his sleep was the way he wanted to go. Thus, Don died as he lived – with a good
sense of humor, a little too impatiently, but entirely on his own terms.

Born in Galion, Ohio, on September 23, 1951, the youngest child to V. William and Rose Louise
Ginder, Don had a typical small-town American childhood. Early years with his brother, Tom,
and his sister, Evelyn, consisted of playing catch in the backyard where he caught all the
“bullets”; beating Evelyn at ping pong; and playing “king and servant” – where Don and Evelyn
were always made to play servant and do Tom’s bidding. As an ardent rule follower throughout
his life, it only made sense that Don literally fell over when Tom told them to “fall in line.”

At Galion High School, his life consisted of being the quarterback on the football team, being the
basketball defensive specialist, trying to learn a little French, singing in the school choir, and
spending time as part of the Amick basement group. This was a time of making jokes, drinking
pop, sneaking bikes up to the top of Perry’s Monument, driving around in his parent’s yellow
Dodge Dart, and developing budding lifelong friendships with Jeff, Quentin, Jack, Terry, Ken,
Neil, the Mikes, Bill, Tim, Daryl (RIP) and Doug (RIP) – affectionately known now as the Galion
geezers.

Don then went off to college at Bowling Green State University – go Falcons! While he probably
attended a few classes here and there, stories of his time there always consisted of
shenanigans with his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers after a few too many beers. At BGSU,
time passed quickly and hazily, and soon, he graduated and headed into the real world to teach
Algebra and coach football at Reynoldsburg Jr. High School.

Teaching at Reynoldsburg brought him to the true joy of his life. An end-of-the-school-year party
at the Farm, the infamous Pickerington bachelor pad known for raucous parties and using the
oven to dry socks, is where Don met a beautiful 70s beauty with long, straight hair and hippy
vibes. She captured his heart as she bored him by showing him a photo album from her recent
trip out West. Despite not really wanting to look at the photos, he was captivated by Chris’
beauty, smile, and positive outlook on life. Six months after the Farm party, on December 11, he
used a little liquid courage at the Kahiki restaurant to propose to that beautiful girl. She never
hesitated, and six months later, on June 11, 1977, with white tuxedo tails and a ruffled shirt, Don
married the love of his life, Christine, and kicked off a beautiful 47-year marriage.

Fun early years as a married couple were spent honeymooning in Hawaii, camping in Camp
Toodik with Kappa Sigma friends, road trips across the country in their orange VW bus, and
sharing beers and good times on lawn chairs in Reynoldsburg. All of this leisurely fun ended
abruptly with the birth of their daughter, Mary Beth, and, shortly after, their second daughter,
Monica, in the mid-80s. With their family complete, Don dived right in and thrived in his role as
“girl dad” – before that term was even a thing.

Confident in his masculinity, Don gladly embraced the title of Dance Dad #1, sporting dresses
and tutus throughout the girls’ dance careers. From opera singer to Sandy from Grease, he wasn’t afraid to take the stage and never took himself too seriously. He taught both girls how to throw a ball and tried to teach them the famous Lou Groza “the Toe” field goal kick in between trees in the backyard – with limited success. After mowing the lawn to look like a baseball field, he took up the critical role of “only adult” during neighborhood wiffle ball games, often getting charged at the mound by rowdy neighborhood kids when his pitches were a little off the plate.

Despite traveling often for work while the girls were young in his role as an education
technology consultant, Don always ensured that Chris and the girls knew they were his priorities
in life. From family trips to Sunset Beach in the early years to hiking national parks and touring
cities around the U.S. and Canada, being with his family gave Don a fulfilling sense of “joie de
vivre.”

As empty nesters, many will remember Don and Chris riding their tandem recumbent bicycle
through the streets of Reynoldsburg and New Albany. On the weekends, Don’s baritone voice
helped to carry the men’s section in the Church of the Resurrection choir. He always hoped his
girls would find good life partners and, in the early-to-mid 2000s, welcomed his future sons-in-
law, Brett and Daniel, with open arms and a few good words of advice. While he tolerated semi-
retirement, Don hated standing still and loved to vacuum and clean – often to Italian dinner
music or Bavarian beer-drinking songs. Eating delicious meals with friends in LEO dinner club,
golfing on Monday nights, rooting on the Ohio State Buckeyes (where he got a master’s degree
in education administration), and spending almost every other waking moment with his best
friend, Chris, filled his days – even polka dancing in the kitchen after dinner.
In later years, as he took on a new role of “The Grandfather” (inspired by the 1937 Heidi film
featuring Shirley Temple), he continued to bring his zest for life to his family. His love for his
grandchildren, Thomas, James, Ronan, and Rosemary, was palpable. He taught Thomas to
fish, kicked the soccer ball with James, did cannonballs into the pool with Ronan, and rocked
Rosie to sleep singing “Smile a Little Smile for Me” by the Flying Machine.

Don was honest. A rule-follower. He cared deeply about the earth and was obsessed with
ensuring everything got into the correct recycling bins. He was a protector of those he loved and
cherished. He was kind. And if he ever offended someone, he always went back to apologize.
His bright blue eyes and 1,000-watt smile could light up the room. His humor, strong faith, love
of life, and care for those around him are testaments to the incredible man he was.

Anyone who met Don was better for it. While Don fittingly chose another “11” day for his
passing, he got the year wrong and is gone far too soon. May we remember his humor,
kindness, faith and love of family and friends—and honor his memory not with sorrow but with
laughter, love, and the kind of celebration he would have wanted.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Cotner Funeral Home at
7369 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. A second visitation will be held Saturday,
March 22, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., at The Church of the Resurrection at 6300 E Dublin
Granville Rd, New Albany, OH 43054. A Catholic Mass will begin at 12:00 p.m., and lunch at the
parish social hall will be held directly after. An additional opportunity to toast and celebrate
Don’s life will be held later that day, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., at Flanagan’s Pub at 3001
Reynoldsburg-New Albany Rd, Blacklick, OH 43004.

In lieu of flowers, please help honor his Catholic faith and support of those in need by donating
to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: https://ssvpusa.org/donate/ 

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