Donna Unger

Donna Unger, age 93, passed away on July 29th.

A longtime resident of Shinnecock Hills, she was born in Lithuania.  At the age of 12, she was tragically separated from her family during World War II and relocated to a displaced children’s’ camp.  Moving to the United States had always been her childhood dream but that dream became reality when she was sponsored by a Catholic family and moved to live with them in Flushing, NY.

There, Donna received her high school diploma while working as a seamstress in the NY garment industry and earned her US citizenship in 1953.  She graduated from fashion design school and her talent quickly earned her a position as a dress designer and ultimately a career at B. Altman and Company.

When she married her dashing Army man, Ernest, her focus moved from fashion to family and she moved to Southampton to become a full-time homemaker and mother.

Trading needles for nails, she worked tirelessly alongside her hubby, building a house for themselves and the two children to come.  Sewing became a sideline and family, friends, and Church moved into first position.

For her, tennis became another passion and family matches eventually led her to local, state, and then to national championships, where she continued to earn medals through to the National Senior Olympics at the age of 80.

While we grieve her loss, we also celebrate her long and rich life, one that attests to the power of faith, the triumph of will and the resilience of the creative spirit.  She was truly a winner, on and off the court!

Donna is predeceased by her husband, Ernest, who passed on September 29, 2021.  She is survived by her son, Douglas, her daughter, Vivian, and her grandchildren, James and Patrick.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donna Unger, please visit our floral store.