Donald Chouinard, teacher, counselor, head baseball coach at Fall River schools for decades passes away

Donald Chouinard was a man of many names. To his closest friends, he was “Bucky.” To the students of Fall River Public Schools, he was “Mr. Chouinard.” To decades of ballplayers at Bishop Connolly High School, he was simply “Coach.” And to a chosen few, he was affectionately known as “Donnie-Cakes.” But to his family, the ones who mattered most, he was “Dad” and “Pepe.”

Born and raised in Fall River, Don lived a life defined by loyalty, generosity, and fierce passion. He spent his career in the Fall River Public School system, beginning as a teacher and retiring as a guidance counselor at Durfee High School. But his true legacy was written in chalk on the baseball diamond. For 43 seasons, Don was the Varsity Head Coach at Bishop Connolly, leading his team to a State Championship in 1990. Yet it was never just about wins. He taught resilience, character, and life lessons out there. He trained players with “wooden gloves,” handcrafted by his own father, Rene Chouinard, to sharpen their fielding skills. Those who shared the diamond with him knew they were learning more than baseball, they were learning how to face life.

Outside the field, Don’s heart shared a love with horse racing. Summers were spent in Saratoga, not just chasing wins, but soaking in the spirit of it all. Don recreated those feelings best he could at home. He was an early riser and could be seen with a racing form in hand, handicapping the afternoon’s racing card, while intermittently checking Red Sox scores. But Fridays? Those were for his crew who picked him up loyally each week. Most often, it was Knuckleheads Bar and Grill, for martinis and KENO, a standing tradition. He made sure life had room for laughter, friends, and just enough adventure to keep it interesting.

When the day wound down, Don had his own ritual. The TV would go off, the racing forms tucked away, and Frank Sinatra’s voice would fill the room. Memories of his beloved wife, June, would wash over him, sometimes bringing a tear, always bringing a smile. In those moments, you could almost see him dancing with her again.

On May 19th, Don spent the day surrounded by loved ones. In the late afternoon hour, he shared a final moment with his son Tim, who held his hand as he listened to “Unchained Melody” one last time, a final connection to the woman he never stopped loving. And just like that, as the music faded…life sang him out, as he did it “his way”.

Don is survived by his sister, Claire Rogers; his son Paul (wife Sheila) and granddaughters Brynn and Cora Chouinard; his son Tim (beloved Naomi) and grandsons Rafael and Matthew.

Donald’s life will be celebrated on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at the Southcoast Funeral Home, located at 1555 Pleasant Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02723. The visitation will be 10:00 AM – 01:00 PM followed by the Celebration of Life at 01:00 PM, Presided over by Chaplain and Life Celebrant Ines Bates.