Astoria

July 2, 1932 — Oct. 16, 2024

Donald MacMillan Haskell passed away Oct. 16, 2024, at the age of 92, after breaking records in a clinical trial, fighting cancer for the past five years.

Don was born on July 2, 1932, in Toledo, Ohio, to Irwin and Grace Haskell, the younger brother to his twin sisters, Doris and Dolores. Growing up in Ohio, he graduated from Whitmer High School, then went on to the College of Wooster, where he met his soon-to-be wife, Carol Jean Ross.

Don and Carol Jean were married June 24, 1954. The young couple moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Don attended and graduated from law school at the University of Michigan in 1957.

Don joined a law firm in Chicago. He refined his craft, and practiced in the areas of insurance coverage and personal injury cases. In 1975, he started his own law firm, Haskell & Perrin. He specialized in litigation and insurance law, expanding to aviation and maritime law.

Over the years, his law firm grew to 45 lawyers and over 100 in staff. He was chairman of the Tort and Insurance Practice section of the American Bar Association, and was a member of the board of directors of the American Bar Association.

Throughout the years, the Haskell family made many trips to Astoria to visit Carol Jean’s parents, Ed and Eda Ross. When Don retired in 1988, they moved to Astoria.

Don continued with his public service, serving as a Clatsop County commissioner and on the Astoria Planning Commission. In 1990, Don took and passed the Oregon bar exam, and while never fully practicing in Oregon, the Oregon Supreme Court appointed him to serve as a member of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners.

In Astoria, Don and Carol invested in several apartment buildings, started a management company, Wecoma Partners, and he served for over 30 years on the Columbia River Maritime Museum Board of Trustees.

Don and Carol enjoyed many adventures on their yacht, “The Otter,” on the Columbia River, as well as trips to Alaska through the Inside Passage.

Don enjoyed pursuing his hobbies. He enjoyed renovating houses, oil painting and playing with his model trains.

Donald Haskell is survived by his wife of 70 years, Carol Jean Ross Haskell; his daughter, Debbie Eitner; and his son, David Haskell. They also have six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His daughter, Cathie Funari, preceded him in death.

Services will be held at Peace First Lutheran Church, 725 33rd St., at 11 a.m. Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Columbia River Maritime Museum and/or the Clatsop County Historical Society would be appreciated.