Donald S. Bjerre

Donald Soren Bjerre, 82, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2025, at his home in Mattapoisett, MA. He was the loving husband of the late Mary Alice (Maccini) Bjerre. 

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Sonia Bjerre, and their children, Claire and James, of Fall River, MA; and his daughter, Krista-Lee Bjerre, and her partner, Tobias Olsen, of Waterford, CT. In addition to his wife Mary Alice, Don is predeceased by his sister, the late Ruth Marie Bjerre.

Don hailed from Boston, MA, and his love of boats was evident from an early age. Following four years in the U.S. Navy, he went to work for the Polaroid Corporation in Waltham, MA. An opportunity at the New Bedford Industrial Park in 1973 led to Don moving his family from Nashua, NH to Mattapoisett, MA, where he lived the rest of his life. He loved Mattapoisett, and often remarked how fortunate he felt to live there.

For more than 30 years, Don worked as a draftsman for Polaroid, where he forged many lifelong friendships. He later consulted for Hart Engineering in Boston, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

In an age that preceded the widespread use of computers, when drafting tables and mechanical pencils were still the order of the day, Don was renowned for his meticulous nature and exacting detail: if he said that a complex piping system would fit inside a given space, it absolutely would -- often to the dumbfounded awe of co-workers.

Don enjoyed many hobbies, including trap shooting, fishing, and biking. He was an expert at ropework, and his skills were always prominently displayed. But his favorite hobby, by far, was boating: some of his fondest memories were of time spent with his family and friends on excursions to the Elizabeth Islands and Martha's Vineyard.

Even when he was no longer able to meet the physical demands of boating, Don would still drive to the town pier at least once a day, so he could, in his words, "make sure that it's still there."

In Don's final years, the most important things were his faith, his family, and his friends. He began each day reading Bible passages, and he attended weekly service at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. He looked forward to his Tuesday morning breakfasts with friends from Polaroid, saying that they were always sure to tip well because they would often sit at the table and talk for hours after they'd finished eating.

Don loved the people in his life -- more than he may have felt comfortable expressing. If you were a part of his life, in any way, please know that he appreciated every kind gesture, every warm word, every phone call, and every card. He loved his life, and he was thankful.

His memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday January 20th from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. His graveside service will be held on Wednesday January 21st at 9:45 AM at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations in Don's memory may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.