Donald Robert LaGrave Spongberg, 80, died on March 22, 2025, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Preceded in death by his Father, Donald Robert LaGrave Sr., Mother Edith May Storlie LaGrave  Spongberg, and stepfather Carl Spongberg. Born on August 12, 1944, in Edgewood, Maryland, Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis took him from us sooner than expected. He lived a life rich in adventure, curiosity, and strong personal connections.  

He strongly resembled his dad, Donald Robert LaGrave, 1st Lt.  Senior was a loving father to his son. He often dashed to the nursery at Edgewood Arsenal during lunch breaks to see baby Donny. His dad was a medical student at Notre Dame when WWII started. He got called up to work in the Biochemistry lab at Edgewood Arsenal. Senior died suddenly from a brain aneurysm when Don was 2 ½. This experience had a significant impact on Don and shaped his approach to life. At age 5, his mother, Edith May Storlie LaGrave, married Carl Spongberg. They had two daughters, Carol and Susan. At 12, Don asked Carl to adopt him so he could share the same name as his mother and sisters.  

He often babysat his younger sisters. To keep them in check, he joked about Gunga Fish hiding under their beds. He promised them a box of Fannie Farmer candy if they rubbed his feet. He finally gave them each that box of candy years later. He was the best big brother. He taught them how to ski on the local golf course using surplus military skis. He was close to his sisters, and they loved him dearly. He always encouraged them to broaden their horizons and explore the world.  

Don enjoyed visiting his LaGrave cousins on their grandparents’ farm in North Dakota. There are also many epic stories from when the Storlie cousins gathered at their grandparents’ house by Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. He had many friends from high school. His family lived in Saint Louis Park and then Edina. He graduated from Edina High School in 1962.   

He continued those friendships while attending the University of Minnesota, where he added to the roster. Some were fellow ski instructors with the Blizzard Ski Club. Others joined him as ski patrollers in Aspen and Portillo, Chile. To reduce costs, they traveled one-way with tickets, but to pay for their way home, they sold suitcases full of cigarettes, liquor, and lingerie. Skiing was a passion sport for Don. He served on many Ski Patrols and loved teaching skiing. In the late ’60s, he was a PSIA-certified ski instructor at Killington. Years later, he enjoyed teaching at Magic Mountain in Vermont, where his grandchildren were on the race team.  In between, there were many wonderful family ski trips to Val D’Isere, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Les Deux Alpes, Portillo, Jackson Hole, and Whistler.  

Seeking international experiences, he decided to go to graduate school at Thunderbird School of Global Management. With his MBA in 1968, he moved to New York City to work for Chemical Bank’s South American Division. On the fourth of July 1969, in the Hamptons, he met his future wife, Gladys. She noticed his strong Midwest chin, thick blond curls, and cowboy boots. During the fall of 1970, they moved together to Minneapolis and got married in July 1971.   

Back in Minneapolis, Don decided to change career paths and became a broker with Clarke Dodge. During his early years, brokerage firms were changing product and were acquired by larger diversified companies.  After Clarke Dodge was acquired by White Weld, they then were acquired by Merrill Lynch.  Blythe was then acquired by Paine Webber. With a desire to move back to New York City, he joined Spencer Trask. To be near his daughter and granddaughters, he then joined Silverwood Partners in Sherborn.  

Beyond professional networking, he had an uncanny ability to remember names and places and valued personal connections. He would talk to anyone and was always eager to hear their stories- especially their backgrounds. He was a collector of experiences rather than possessions.  When he got the chance to visit a client’s home in Saudi Arabia, he jumped at it. Later, he  welcomed that client’s family to our home in Atlanta.  

In 1972, as Newlyweds Don and Gladys bought a sailboat and called it “Happy Bottom”, after the nickname given to Gladys by her dad. With friends and family, they enjoyed racing and sailing in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. He even put a bunch of friends together to participate in the Trans Superior Sailing Race.  

In 1976, daughter Addie was born, beginning the adventures of fatherhood. In 1979, he transferred to the Blythe Atlanta office so he could have more outdoor time in a warmer climate. In 1980, he and Gladys adopted their son, Jake, thus completing their family. Don adored his children and took great joy in supporting their passions—whether camping or learning to scuba dive with Jake or driving hours to bring Addie her forgotten boots he’d spit-shined to a high gloss for horseshow competitions. A softie, his kids knew Dad would buy the sugar cereal and McDonald’s. Having boundless energy, he could stay up late but be up early, waking the household by blasting Ottmar Liebert’s *Nouveau Flamenco* through the speakers.  

One night driving home from work, a chance NPR radio announcement seeking host families for  French teens led him to make a call, and years later, that first teen named Don as Godfather to his first son. Many gatherings on both sides of the Atlantic forged lasting bonds that continue to endure today across generations.  

When Don had the chance to move back to New York in 1994, he took it and expanded his network of friends and connections. He served as an Elder at The Brick Presbyterian Church. He also led projects with Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, he helped serve meals to recovery workers at ground zero for several months after 9/11.  

In 2008, he became a grandpa, a role he adored. He loved playing with his Grandchildren, teaching them how to ski, build things and ride a bike. When they stayed overnight, he would announce the kitchen was open. He acted as a short-order cook to please their whims, even satisfying the girl’s requests for cheeseburgers for breakfast. He jokingly announced he would someday open up “Sponie’s Crepe and Eggs.” Having a sweet tooth, he taught his granddaughters the old Scandinavian trick to accidentally drop the strawberry in the sugar bowl. Yearning to be closer to their grandchildren and be an integral part of their lives, he and Gladys moved to Holliston. Whenever he could, he’d volunteer at Pine Hill Elementary School and the 2015 Sherborn Playground Rebuild project.  

Having a pied piper personality, he loved having his grandchildren around with their friends. Don couldn’t wait to visit baby Sophia.  Besides seeing her on FaceTime, he allowed us to get him into the car and drive down to Brooklyn to see her in person and take one last tour of his favorite place, NYC. Not to be forgotten was his love of travel, especially to his ancestral France.  So many memories of visiting Opera houses or ballet, any theater.  He took 6 oxygen tanks to see James Taylor.  He loved classical music, but when driving “Taxi” for the grandkids, he played country music in the car, playfully changing the lyrics to suit the day and called himself “Tex.”  

He had a great sense of humor, but terrible comedic timing.  He couldn’t deliver a joke. Throughout his life, he kept diaries and loved to sketch out possible storylines.  An eternal optimist, he always saw the glass half full. He truly seized every day. Once he was put on 24/7 oxygen in August 2022, he used his writing to maintain connections.  He loved his morning coffee, the world newspapers, sports, and even the view outside his window.  They were fodder for long emails and essays to friends.  

Don is survived by his beloved wife Gladys Ruth Spongberg of Wellesley, his daughter Addie  Mae Spongberg Weiss and her husband Ryan Weiss of Sherborn, Massachusetts; their children  Alexis and Reese Weiss; his son Jake Spongberg and his wife Marina of Brooklyn, New York; their daughter Sophia; his sisters Susan Spongberg of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Carol Spongberg and her husband David Carroll of Bend, Oregon; as well as many cherished extended family members and friends across the world. Don loved life fully with humor, warmth, curiosity, and an unshakable optimism that inspired those around him. His memory will live on through the countless lives he touched across continents and generations.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 10:30 AM at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sherborn. In the spirit of Donald wishing to be buried in his beloved US Ski Team jacket and trekking pants, please dress for outdoor adventure, warm sweaters, and weather prepared.  A celebration of life will be held in May or June. In lieu of flowers, he would have appreciated a donation to Habitat for Humanity. 

“And, in the end 

The love you take 

Is equal to the love you make.” 

-The Beatles 1969