Donald ‘Don’ Fred SamuelsonDec. 31, 1941 – Dec. 9, 2025

Donald “Don” Fred Samuelson, a longtime resident of Grays Harbor, Washington, died unexpectedly on Dec. 9, 2025, in Tacoma, Washington. He was born in Astoria, Oregon, to Harry and Alice Samuelson. The family later moved to Hoquiam, Washington, then to Eugene, Oregon, and eventually settled in Westport, Washington, where Don attended and graduated from Ocosta High School. He played quarterback and lettered in football, basketball, and track. He spent his summers charter fishing for salmon and albacore tuna with his father and commercial fishing on various boats. Don served as student body president and graduated as Salutatorian of his senior class.

After high school, Don attended and graduated from Grays Harbor Community College with a degree in biology and later earned degrees in biology and chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University.

Following college, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After completing boot camp in San Diego, California, he attended and graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He received training in radiological health at Bethesda Naval Hospital and then reported to the USS Sperry (submarine tender) as an ensign, serving four years in the ship’s medical department.

After his discharge from the Navy, Don earned a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University. He worked as an analytical chemist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and later for the University of Washington’s Sea Grant Program as a marine field agent in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1978, Don joined the faculty at Grays Harbor Community College, where he taught fisheries technology and natural resources until his retirement in 2005.

Don believed deeply in continual improvement — both for himself and for the institutions he served. He was known for building leadership, fostering teamwork, and encouraging excellence among his students and colleagues. His students often joked that he was really an English or speech teacher disguised as a natural resource instructor. He expected professionalism in reading, writing, and public speaking, no matter what career paths his students pursued, and many thanked him later for instilling those skills.

Midway through his teaching career, Don took a sabbatical to pursue Environmental Studies at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. This experience shifted his teaching to a more student-centered approach, revitalizing his career and leading to what he considered the most rewarding years of his professional life.

Don also continued his military career serving in the Naval Reserve for a total of 30 years. He held numerous leadership positions, including reserve commanding officer of multiple Naval hospitals, and served as executive officer of a 950-member fleet hospital for the final decade of his service. He retired in 1996 with the rank of Captain.

Don was also deeply involved in the Westport fishing industry. He owned and operated several charter boats — “too many,” as his wife of 37 years fondly recalled. He and his wife, Caroline, also ran fishing charters in Ketchikan and Prince of Wales, Alaska. Both of Don’s sons continue the family’s fishing tradition as commercial boat owners and operators. Don treasured time spent with his sons, talking “fish and boat talk,” and he cherished their warm hugs most of all. He was immensely proud of them and all they accomplished.

Don and Caroline loved camping and traveling — visiting Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, French Polynesia, the Bahamas for fly-fishing, Norway, and Alaska. He enjoyed hunting pheasants with his Brittany dogs; gardening and raising orchids in his greenhouse; golfing, skiing, and cheering for the Seahawks, Mariners, University of Washington, and Gonzaga. Some of his happiest moments were watching sports with his grandson, Peter. Don also loved reading and photography.

Don is survived by his wife, Caroline J. Samuelson of Aberdeen; his sons, Eric Samuelson of Westport, and Kris Samuelson (Holly) of Aberdeen (mother, Ina Rowley); and two beloved grandchildren, Peter Samuelson of Seattle and Anna Samuelson of Celina, Texas (mother, Becky Samuelson). He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Samuelson, and his sisters, Eloise Bickar/Shattuck and Dorothy Bryant. He is also survived by five lifelong and enduring friends: Gordon Bloomquist of Denmark, Bryan Sandeno of Olympia, Don McMaster of Olympia, Dan Baxter of Eugene, and Chuck Haley of San Diego.

A Celebration Of Life will be held for all who know and loved Don on Feb. 7, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Westport Winery.