Donna Jean Newkirk Stallings Dreyfus was born on January 29, 1931 in Cincinnati, Ohio and passed away in the comfort of her home in New Milford, Connecticut on May 18, 2024. 

Donna moved to Florida as a teen, where she graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School as a cheerleader, gymnast, and swim team member. After graduating high school, she moved to New York City to begin a modeling career which included being a Miss Rheingold contestant. She was also featured in the March of Time movie and the Hit Parade. She met her soulmate, Charles Henry Dreyfus, who was in public relations and advertising. They married on November 29, 1950.

Over the years, they lived in Forest Hills, Syosset, and Roslyn, New York and Sherman and Brookfield Connecticut before settling in New Milford. They had several restaurant ventures where Donna partnered with her husband most notably as the hostess at the Coach ’n Seven where people raved about her scrumptious cheesecake. Donna also worked at Marriott as a food service manager where she was affectionately known as Do-Do Donna.

In her personal life, Donna was a devoted wife but became a relatively young widow. She maintained her relationships as a beloved mother of three (Colleen, Chuck, and Michael) and active grandmother of three. Her talents included many artistic endeavors and being a great cook. She loved water skiing, bridge and other games, dining out, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. Although not her greatest accomplishment, she once won first prize in a burro riding contest while in Mexico.

In her later years, Donna enjoyed her role as a very giving Nana (Nana D), taking care of Cooper, Zoë, and Carlie, and her animals, Pipin, Little Man, and Kayla. She participated in the New Milford Senior Center gourmet group and lunch bunch. Donna had the fortitude and integrity to deal with macular degeneration, chronic pain, and hearing loss. She was independent and feisty till the end and she had the support of her entire family including her daughter-in-law Larissa and caregiver Karina.

Donna is preceded in death by her husband Chuck Dreyfus, biological father Donald Newkirk, mother Mildred Stallings, sister Alice Lanford, step-father Frank Stallings, mother in-law Clara Rosenbaum, father in-law Charles Dreyfus Sr. and brother in-law Al Dreyfus. She is survived by her children, Colleen, Chuck, and Michael (Larissa), grandchildren Cooper, Zoë, and Carlie, and extended family in Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Bright Focus Foundation specifying that the donation be used for macular degeneration research. Donations can be made at brightfocus.org or 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871.

To view Donna’s memorial video, click on this link: https://youtu.be/quswgQFnuTg

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