Donald Kenneth Bird, 68, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, at Halifax Hospice Center in Ormond Beach, Florida, after a brief illness.

Born on October 20, 1957, in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, Don was the son of Roberta Bird and the late Robert Bird. He spent his early childhood in Quincy before his family settled in Rockland in 1960. A graduate of Rockland High School’s Class of 1976, Don went on to attend Massachusetts College of Art, where he further developed the remarkable artistic talent that would define much of his life.

Don was an exceptionally gifted graphic artist who took immense pride in his work. He dedicated many years to Grass Instruments in Quincy, where his creativity and skill left a lasting impression. Later in life, he ventured to the Fort Worth area of Texas, residing there for a decade before eventually settling in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he spent his final years.

Though never married, Don was deeply loved by his large and devoted family. He is survived by his mother, Roberta Bird; his brother, David (Joyce), along with their four children and nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren; the three children and three grandchildren of his late sister, Susan Bird Pharmakis; his sister Ellen (Alex) Affleck and their four children and eight grandchildren; and his sister Carol (Chet) Lagana and their two children and grandchild. He also leaves behind many cousins across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Georgia who loved him like a brother and will miss him dearly.

Don will also be remembered by his closest lifelong friends from Rockland High School, Steve MacDonald and his family, and Tom Whitcher, all of whom he cared about deeply and spoke of often.

To know Don was to experience his outrageous, boisterous, and sometimes bawdy sense of humor, as well as his extraordinary artistic ability. He had a deep love for science fiction — especially Star Trek and Star Wars — and found great joy in music, particularly the sounds of The Moody Blues and The Cars. Blessed with a brilliant photographic memory, Don was a devoted trivia enthusiast and a proud Jeopardy! superfan. Above all, he carried a profound appreciation for the beauty of life, God, Jesus, and the vast wonder of the universe.

Per Don’s request, a small family gathering will be held this April in Quincy, where loved ones will come together to celebrate and honor his life.

The simplest way to honor Don is to remember him, his laughter, his creativity, his passions, and the unmistakable presence he brought into the lives of those who knew him. His memory will live on in the stories shared, the art he created, and the love he leaves behind.

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