Don was born in San Francisco and raised in both SF and Marin. He graduated from Marin Catholic High School in 1960 and Heald Engineering College in 1965. He worked for 10 years as a Design Engineer for CALTRANS and 27 years as an engineer for the California Public Utilities Commission, retiring in 2003. 

Don had a lifelong interest in Sailing. He had many boats and sailed out of the Corinthian Yacht Club, and most recently out of Richmond Yacht Club. 

He is predeceased by his wife Sylvia McCrea of the family home in Larkspur and survived by daughters Madeleine McCrea of Tiburon, Deborah McCrea (Manuel Castro) of San Rafael and Michelle McCrea (Lorenzo Dughi) of Cotati. Also survived by granddaughters Jasmine Castro of Barcelona, Spain and Valentina Castro of Petaluma.