Donna A. Chauvin Quallen

Donna Ann Chauvin Quallen, of Clayton New York, passed away during the morning of September 30, 2024. The cause was cancer.

Donna was a life-long educator and advocate for children and adults with special needs. Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on February 16, 1958, Donna discovered a passion for teaching from helping other students in local ballet classes. She received a bachelor’s from Clark University then studied educational administration first at Harvard and later at SUNY Oswego, where she earned a masters.

In the years that followed, her work and family life intertwined. Early in her career she met Mark Quallen, her future husband. She was supervising care for adults with special needs at Berkshire County ARC; he was the guardian to his younger brother Matthew, who had Down Syndrome.

Donna and Mark relocated to Alexandria Bay, and in 1987, wed at Singer Castle. They were married for 37 years before her death. Together, they raised five children—three they had together, and two born to Mark during a previous marriage.

In the north country, Donna worked as a special education administrator for BOCES. After she relocated to Connecticut (for the benefit of her three school-aged children), she became the founding director of the birth-to-three program at the Wheeler Clinic. Over years, she built a program serving hundreds of children too young for school by providing them with early intervention services.

Once her own children had grown, Donna returned to the north country, settling with Mark along the river near the village of Clayton, where they had often summered during their two decades away. Donna hosted family on the water, volunteered her time grant-writing for the Antique Boat Museum, and reunited with old friends, even rejoining a book club—the Brown Bag Book Club (by reputation, the longest-running in Clayton)—she had been a member of 30 years prior. But she also became sick with cancer and, at the age of 66, passed away. Her family is heartbroken.

Donna was the daughter of Robert Chauvin and Gerry Shea, who predeceased her. She is survived by three children, her daughter Kaitlin and twin sons Eric and Matthew, as well as two stepchildren, Jim and Jennifer (and their six children). Her husband, Mark, survives her. She is also survived by her brother Bob and sister Karen, in addition to numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was predeceased by her first child, a son, J.R.

Friends and family are invited to attend a reception in Donna’s memory on Saturday October 12 from 11:30am until 2:00pm at the Clipper Inn—126 State Street, Clayton, NY 13624. Per Donna’s wishes, dress will be casual.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna’s memory can be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham Street, Watertown, NY 13601 and the Walker Center for Cancer Care, 830 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601. The family wish to express their gratitude for the care these organizations provided Donna during her illness.

Condolences may be made to www.dlcalarco.com  Arrangements are with D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc.

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