Donald P. Elia died Wednesday afternoon, March 27th, 2024, at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. His death was peaceful, with his wife Colleen and children Christy and John by his side. He was 83.
Don grew up in New Jersey, where he and his sister were raised by their single mother, Dorothy Beatty. He graduated from Hackettstown High School in 1958. After high school, he traveled to Tennessee to attend Maryville College, where he would compete in wrestling, football, and track. Though Don was an eager athlete, he wasn’t quite ready for the rigors of academic life; he left school for a while, grew up a bit, and married Colleen. They moved to Maryville so Don could work and coach while he finished his degree in Education.
He went on to complete a Master of Science in College Student Personnel and Counseling from the University of Tennessee in 1973. He worked briefly at the McCallie School in Chattanooga before landing the job at Carson-Newman College (now Carson-Newman University) that would define his career. At Carson-Newman he established a wrestling program and worked as the Director of Financial Aid. From 1978 until his retirement in 2008, Don coached and mentored generations of wrestlers and helped families afford higher education.
After retirement he created a non-profit to support wrestling in East Tennessee and traveled back and forth for hours to support the Club Wrestling team at East Tennessee State University. For his decades of contributions to the wrestling community, Don was inducted into the Maryville College Wall of Fame, the Carson-Newman University Hall of Fame, the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Beyond his love of wrestling and coaching, Don was a loyal New York Giants fan, an ever-optimistic golfer, and a proud father and grandfather. He could find his way anywhere without a map. He built things without designs. Don’s life was in many ways a thing of myth and legend, some no doubt of his own making, and his family wouldn’t have it any other way.
Don is survived by his wife Colleen; children Christy Brooks (husband Rob) and John (wife Alice); five amazing grandchildren (Thomas, Julian, Jack, Emmylou, and Pete); and his sister Barbara Chiu (husband Vince).
A private celebration of life will be organized by his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any recognition of Don’s life be sent as a gift to a local wrestling program of your choice.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
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