Donald E. MacQueen Jr. ’77

Don died Feb. 19, 2026, at the age of 71 from complications of ALS.  

Sports were a big part of Don’s early years in New Jersey and he excelled, especially at football. He was recruited to play football in college and chose Princeton. He received the Lourie Award for the outstanding freshman football player before injuries ended his football career. He played rugby at Princeton all four years. Through friends at Princeton, Don met Gay, whom he married in 1981, for a love story of 45 years. They raised four sons in West Windsor, N.J.  

Following graduation, Don worked at Fenn and Fenn, a printing company in New York. After five years, Don started at Walter B. Howe, an insurance agency in Princeton, as a commercial insurance agent. His job was always interesting as he worked with companies as varied as landscaping firms, small schools, and foundations. He spent 36 years there (later Howe Insurance Group), the last five as president and co-owner. 

Don never wanted to be the center of attention, but he did occasionally mention the gold star streak he and Gay maintained, successfully completing The New York Times crossword puzzle, reaching 2,594 consecutive days on the day he died. 

Don is survived by his wife, Gay; sons Edward (Barbara); Ian (Danielle); Grant (Jessica); and Henry (Catherine); 18 grandchildren; sister Sara (William) Oderwald; brother Andrew (Sherry); brother-in-law Steve Shults; former sister-in-law Patricia MacQueen; and a niece and nephews.