New England Hall of Famer Basketball Player Donald Paul Suggs of Pawtucket Dies at 77

New England Hall of Famer Basketball Player Donald Paul Suggs of Pawtucket Dies at 77

Donald Paul Suggs, of Pawtucket, died on Saturday, November 5th at the Hope Health Hospice Center in Providence. He was 77 years old.  

During the 1960s Donald was considered one of the top basketball players in the country, playing for Tolman High School in Pawtucket, where he still holds the record for scoring the most points in a single season (501 in 1963-64). After graduating from high school, he went on to have a memorable basketball career at Rhode Island College. Donald was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and recognized in 2012 as a Basketball Legend by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

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A proud member of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, Donald worked at the Adult Correctional Institute for over thirty years. He helped pioneer the Score Program, implemented to help reduce youth incarceration. 

Prior to his illness, Donald coached and officiated softball throughout Rhode Island and was a coach, friend, and mentor to youth of all ages at The Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket. Donald was a huge sports fan, especially his beloved New York Yankees and Boston Celtics. 

He is predeceased by his parents Viola Addison and Frank Suggs and his brother William and sisters Joyce, Maria and Carol. He is survived by his children Deborah-Jane and Justin, daughter-in-law Ann, grandchildren Marcus and Maya and sisters Virginia Walker, Barbara Gibbs, Elizabeth Wallace and brothers Richard Addison and Gerald Suggs, as well as his cherished puggle Emma. Donald was a friend to many and the beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Funeral Service Tuesday, November 15th at 11:00 AM in the Costigan-O’Neill Funeral Home, 220 Cottage Pawtucket.

Visiting hours Tuesday from 9-11 AM, prior to the Service in the Costigan-O’Neill Funeral Home. The burial will be private.