Donald E. Olen Jr.
October 6, 1956 ~ August 9, 2026
Born in: Portland, Maine
Resided in: Falmouth, Maine
FALMOUTH — Donald E. Olen Jr., 69, passed away on August 9, 2026, in Portland, surrounded by the love of his family. Don was born on October 6, 1956, in Portland, the son of Marion (Phillips) and Donald E. Olen Sr.
Don graduated from Falmouth High School in 1975, where he was a standout basketball player. He went on to complete a postgraduate year at Maine Central Institute, continuing his basketball career, before graduating from the University of Southern Maine, where he also played basketball. It was during these years that he met the love of his life, Cheryl. The two shared 46 years of marriage and a lifetime of adventures.
For 41 years, Don worked in sales at Earle W. Noyes & Sons, United Van Lines. He helped thousands of families through their moves, approaching his work with the same care, warmth, and personal attention that defined every part of his life. Don had an extraordinary ability to connect with people, and many who began as customers, coworkers, teammates, or acquaintances quickly became lifelong friends.
Above all else, Don loved his family. Some of his happiest moments were spent on the sidelines watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He was always there cheering them on, supporting them, and inevitably getting to know the other families around him. Don had a way of making people feel welcomed and cared for, and he treated his children’s and grandchildren’s friends and families as his own.
Generous, outgoing, thoughtful, and fiercely protective of the people he loved, Don was a friend to all. If someone needed help, he was often the first to show up, willing to drop whatever he was doing. He looked for the good in everyone and rarely met a stranger. He loved sharing stories, especially of his remarkable adventures.
Travel was one of Don’s great passions. Together, Don and Cheryl visited all seven continents, with Don often hunting or fishing while Cheryl was nearby capturing their adventures through her photographs. He treasured fishing trips with his father, his son, and his friends, traveling to destinations around the world.
Of all the places Don traveled, however, one of his favorites was much closer to home: the family camp in the western Maine mountains. Camp was his place for family, friendship, and solitude. He loved being on the ponds, hiking and hunting, spending time with his friends, and simply enjoying the quiet of the mountains.
Though his life ended far too soon, Don filled his years with enough love, friendship, and adventure for many lifetimes. He leaves behind countless stories, cherished memories, and a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
Don was predeceased by his father, Donald E. Olen Sr., and his sister, Elizabeth Cook. He is survived by his beloved wife Cheryl (Parker) Olen; his mother, Marion Olen; his children, Ashley and her husband, Abel Wright, and Parker and his wife, Jenna Olen; his grandchildren, Blake, Eleanor, Marlowe, Cooper, Quincy, Emery, and Alice; his niece, Emily Parker; and many beloved extended family members and dear friends.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the care team at the Marshall L. and Susan Gibson Pavilion for Medical Oncology at Maine Medical Center for the compassionate care they provided to Don and his family.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 11am at Falmouth Congregational Church, 267 Falmouth Road, Falmouth. A Celebration of Life will follow.
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Dearest Cheryl and family, I could not be more sorry, that you have suffered this terrible loss of your beloved husband, father and grandfather. I grieve with you all and will be holding you all up in my prayers as you navigate through this great sorrow. Sending virtual hugs to you Cheryl.
It is with disbelief and complete shock that I discovered Donny O’s passing on line. I had the pleasure of teaching and coaching Don in basketball at Falmouth High School and know his immediate family as well.
Don still holds the seasonal field goal percentage lead to this day at FHS converting on almost 68% of his tries as a senior.I will always remember what a brilliant student/athlete he was and more importantly a great family man. I extend my love and prayers to the family. Another person taken from us way too soon!
Coach Higgins
Dear Family,
We are so sad to hear of Don’s death. Just couldn’t believe it and will always remember the entire Olen family as being the best. Marion, you and Don did a wonderful job is bringing up not only Don but Liz too.Don was always so pleasant and such a gentleman and creative Liz made us laugh. Cheryl, our sympathy to you, your children, and grandchildren is more than we can express. We are thinking of you, care about you, and feel very fortunate that we have known you for a very long time. Please take care of yourselves.
Pam and Bob
Cheryl and family,
I was so saddened to hear of Don’s passing. It was far too soon, but Don certainly got more out of life than many people who are fortunate enough to live much longer.
As you probably remember, Don was my first boss right out of college in 1987. He was incredibly supportive and patient—and certainly a master at the job I was desperately trying to learn (but never quite did!).
I still think often about the sound advice Don shared with me over the years, and I’m very grateful to have known him. He made a lasting impression on me, as I know he did on so many others.
My deepest condolences to all of you.
Dear Olen Family…Like many others, I was shocked and very saddened to receive the news of Donny’s death. Please know I am keeping you all close in my heart. Donny was such a good friend to Buddy. He visited Buddy regularly after all his many surgeries throughout the years. They shared many fishing and hunting stories. One of my favorite stories was when Donny invited Buddy out on his boat to fish for tuna. Donny had Buddy climb way up on the perch (I don’t know nautical terms!) to look for the tuna, while hanging on for dear life! They never spotted a tuna that day. It was great fun and a challenge for Buddy! They both were in their “happy places” that day. Donny was a great guy! Love to you all….Kathy Earle
Dear Ashley: Losing a parent is hard. Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.🕊️
Love, Joanne & Ron Coleman
Marion, Cheryl and family,
Christy and I are still in shock over the passing of Don. We were so hopeful , like you all, that Don would have a steady recovery from this situation. I have so many Great memories of my Maine cousin(s) and family.
We are sending prayers from our family to yours.
Cheryl, Joe & I were so saddened to hear Don passed away. As you know, I knew him from our cheerleading days at Greely High School. But he and his great team moved us a couple times, as well as Joe’s mother after her husband passed away. They were all so gracious and helpful, which you wrote so perfectly in Don’s obituary. My heart goes out to you and your family. Don was truly one of the good guys!
Cheryl, Ashley, Parker and the entire Olen clan…..I can’t do justice to all these memories shared above and below but I will add my own, though brief, note of condolence. I can’t count the number of times that he and the Noyes Boys, moved me and Paula, but we knew it would be done right. I was so fortunate to be invited to hunt birds at his camp in Eustis. Although I never liked his camp beans it was a privilege and an honor to be invited. Don, his dad, and Sage are reunited. The fish are not safe in heaven. He was a true gentleman.
To the Olen Family – so sorry to hear this news, it feels like the other day I was watching Don Jr. in high school playing hoops in the mid 70’s at Falmouth H.S. where I would graduate 10 years later in 1985. Another life taken too soon, but his memories with all that knew him will last a lifetime. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.
I met Donny while a student at USM. Our paths only crossed once in all the years since. He was a truly kind person. I was ill with mononucleosis prior to it being diagnosed, and eventually had to drop out for a semester. Donny would help me up and down the stairs and carry my books to class; speaking of class, he had plenty of it. Just the nicest person. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Don was a cherished husband, a great father/grandfather/son, a wonderful member of the community and a very special person. He lived life to the fullest. You should be proud to have had him in your lives. The memories will not be extinguished!
My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Don several years ago. He helped us move to and from various homes when we lived in Maine and made the process seamless. Most of all, we remember Don as a kind gentleman, with a great smile, and who spoke of his family with such love and kindness. To this day we still mention him from time to time and are very saddened to read of his passing. He led a life of adventure and was lucky to have a fantastic family. May he rest in peace.
The Smith family
Losing a spouse or partner is one of life’s most painful experiences.
Especially when they leave too soon, but his kindness stays with us—silent, steady, and strong.
I will miss his seeing him at PYC.
I played basketball with Don at Falmouth; I was a year behind him (76) and he was one of the upperclassmen who was always willing to teach and share. A great guy gone too soon.
Also sad to learn that the world lost his sister Liz, also gone far too soon.
Dear Cheryl,
Dave and I are heart sick to hear about losing your dear Don. We all considered Don as “our Don” at Grand Palm. What a wonderful man who quickly got to know all of his new neighbors and jumped in to become a big part of our special Florida community. He always had a smile on his face and a warm helping hand. He will be so very missed. We send our love and prayers to you and your family.
My sincere condolences to Don’s family and friends. Don and I were never “friends”, although we had numerous conversations over the years, and the same age. Don sold HHG for Noyes. I sold HHG for Bisson during most of his and my career. We enjoyed a mutual respect and we both prevailed successfully. As competitors we never misaligned one another with our prospective customers. When a customer asked who else to call for additional estimates I suggested Don and vice versa. We both knew that each of us and our respective companies would provide great service, even if it wasn’t with our own movers. Don was the only other mover’s representative I would recommend for our upscale HHG market. The race is over Donny. You finished. God bless you and your family.
Cheryl, Ashley, Parker and Marion,
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your husband, father and son.
The first time I met Don he was shooting hoops in his parent’s driveway. Don Sr sold dental supplies to my dad, and they became friends who hunted and fished together along with Dick, Tony and Bernie.
Our first adventure together, sometime in the mid 70’s, was a weeklong canoe trip down the St John River with Don Sr, Walter, Tony and my dad Lee where Don told me about his girlfriend Cheryl.
In the years to follow I would see Don and his family at the annual lobster cookouts at Tony and Bonnie’s house in Rye, NH.
After I graduated from College, I began to join the hunting gang at Don and Don Sr’s remote camp in the western mountains of Maine where every day was an adventure. During these years Don became a good friend.
In 2019 we embarked on a remote horseback elk hunting trip in Wyoming. This was an incredible adventure which I will never forget.
I am deeply saddened by Don’s passing and the loss of future adventures with Don, but I will always cherish the memories we had on these adventures.
Brian Roper
Dear Cheryl – We have been away a lot this summer, which is why only now did Carol and I learn of your devastatingly sad news. I feel ever so fortunate to have had a brief telephone conversation with Donny just before you both went down to Boston in hopes of discovering “one more miracle “. As his longtime fishing buddy, I will miss his wonderful smile and kind heart that always made the world a better place for all of us who knew and loved him. We send you a great big hug, and will be in touch very soon. Chuck and Carol
To Don’s family. I met Don many, many years ago at a United Van Lines meeting. Although we never saw “eye to eye” (I am 5’6 if you know what I mean), we worked together on many orders, shared many stories and had the same “customer 1st” attitude on every shipment . I am so sorry for your loss. He was one of the moving business Great Guys. You should be proud!! He will be missed.