Donald A. Pierce, Jr.
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Donald A. Pierce, Jr, died peacefully on March 12, 2021 at the age of 81. Don was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen (Apted) Pierce. He is survived by his children Susan (Steve) Mavrides of Apex, NC; Brad (Elizabeth) Pierce of Cincinnati, OH; and David (Patti) Pierce of Winnetka, IL; and eight grandchildren: Dylan, Stacia, Jake and Spencer Mavrides, Cooper and Graham Pierce, Mackenzie and Durfee Pierce. Don leaves his beloved siblings, Richard (Marie) Pierce of Chelsea, MI and Janet (Bill) Raisch of Hilton Head Island, SC; in-laws Dora (Apted) and Bill Grover of Essex. CT, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Don was born in Detroit, Michigan to Sally (Giffen) and Donald A. Pierce, Sr. Don was a 1957 graduate of Bentley High School in Livonia, Michigan. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1961, where he was member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the "Battling Bishop's" varsity tennis team, varsity Debate Squad, W-Clan and Class of '61 Alumni Weekend committee.
Don received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1964 and his MBA from the University of Michigan School of Business in 1966. He continued his legal education in taxation at Wayne State University where he earned his LLM in 1972. He was a member of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Michigan State Bar for more than 50 years. Don was a partner in the firm of Fulkerson, Hudson, Moore, Bileti, Pierce and Tennent and later Dean & Fulkerson.
As a passionate tennis player and entrepreneur, Don was instrumental in creating the Birmingham Racquet Club in1974, as the area's first domed-tennis structure. A few years later Don founded the Troy Racquet club in 1977, recognized as the first private/public partnership with the City of Troy. He was a long-time member of the Birmingham Athletic Club.
Don shared a bright and curious spirit with all he met. At times it was difficult to distinguish if Don had known someone for 15 minutes or 15 years. He was always positive and friendly with an eagerness to explore new places and meet new people. He was grounded in fairness. Summarized by many, "You were a great guy."
The family will hold a private burial Saturday March 27, 2021 at Six Oaks Cemetery, Hilton Head Island. A celebration of Don's life for family and friends will be held 3-5pm on May 8, 2021 at the Birmingham Athletic Club, 4033 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48301.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's or the Palmer Park Tennis Academy/People for Palmer Park.
Online: https://www.kirkgibsonfoundation.org/donate/
https://www.peopleforpalmerpark.org/tennis.html
Offline: The Kirk Gibson Foundation For Parkinson's, 19798 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
People for Palmer Park, PO Box 43735, Detroit, MI 48243