Donald Fear

Donald Wayne Fear, loving father, grandfather, teacher, mentor, friend, and artist of Woodbridge, Virginia, passed away on May 3, 2025, a day after his 73rd birthday. He recently received a lung cancer diagnosis, which he bravely fought until the end. Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on May 2, 1952, to the late Howard and Thelma Jean (Dennis) Fear, he later relocated to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he completed high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force. He proudly served in Vietnam as member of the Air Force’s Military Police. During his tour of service, he found a passion for photography, which was sparked by the purchase of a camera from a ranking officer. Upon his return and honorable discharge, he continued to work in military services, utilizing his newfound love of photography. He graduated from the Corcoran School of the Arts (present day George Washington University), majoring in fine arts photography. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Delaware, where he was a teaching assistant and added a passion for teaching to his love of photography and the arts. In the late 1980s, he was instrumental in the development of the Suitland High School Visual and Performing Arts photography program. For 25 years, Don inspired and influenced students as the photography teacher there, not only to excel in the arts but also to be the best version of themselves. As a respected educator, he was a CBE Arts Education Fellow and NAEA Teacher of the Year recipient. As an artist, Don’s work was represented by the Kathleen Ewing Gallery. His work was frequently shown both throughout the D.C. metropolitan area and nationally, culminating in an exhibition at the Hunter Museum of Art titled Not So Deep. Throughout Don’s life, he was an avid fisherman and lover of the outdoors. He regularly volunteered at local parks and was instrumental in creating children’s fishing tournaments. He loved the beach and the water. Don frequented the Outer Banks (NC), Florida, and Wachapreague (VA) as well as other east coast beaches, often taking fishing trips with his friends and family. Don was preceded in death by his mother, father, and the love of his life, Jamie McClellan Fear, after she fought a 13-year battle with cancer. Don was devoted to her beyond words and documented her life with cancer in a show entitled Jamie’s Journey, featured at the NIH Clinical Center. He loved his service dog, Fiona, with all his heart and for over 18 years was hardly seen without her at his side. In the final years of his life, Don enjoyed spending time with his longtime companion, Cui, and spending time with his friends and neighbors, whom he loved deeply, only second to his granddaughter Fenny. Don is survived by his son Alan, daughter-in-law Deanne, granddaughter Fenny, brothers Howard and Alan, sisters Donna, Barbara, and Sherry, mother of his son, Kathy Fear and beloved student Marlon. He was a loving father, grandfather, teacher, mentor, and was cherished by his family, students, neighbors, and his community as a whole. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home, 3200 Golansky Blvd., Woodbridge, VA 22192. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation via mail at Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Department, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403 or https://tinyurl.com/mr346yhj

Tributes

Donald Fear

May 4, 2025