Donald Paul Dwyer

Don Dwyer passed away peacefully surrounded by close friends and loved ones at UNMH on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, after complications from a car accident. He was 88 years young. He will be greatly missed. Donald Paul Dwyer was born in the border town of Douglas, Arizona in 1935. He said often that the depression years didn’t impact his family because everyone in the Douglas area was poor, so no one noticed.

 He was early educated at the Loretto Catholic school in Douglas. When he was still young, his mother decided to move to “The Big City”: Albuquerque. Don graduated from Highland Highschool in 1952. He then dabbled briefly in higher education at UNM where he developed an aversion to Academia. He joined the Air National Guard for thirteen years and traveled to Thailand and Puerto Rico during the Vietnam war.

 He married Faith Dwyer in 1975 in Miami, Florida. After their daughter, Jennifer Dwyer, was born in 1976 they returned to New Mexico. Don began his career in Real Estate shortly after that and never looked back. His creativity and thoughtful risk taking in business led him on many adventures, and his generous and outgoing nature will always be remembered. He always took up for the underdog, and he always encouraged people to step up to their potential.

Don spent the rest of his life in Albuquerque, mainly in the same neighborhood he grew up in. He had breakfast at Kap’s on Central every morning for more than ten years. He had a special bond with his breakfast companions.

Don is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Dwyer, son-in-law Philip Brown, his ex-wife and lifelong friend, Faith Dwyer, and his seven grandchildren.

 A graveside service will be held at Fairview Memorial Park on Tuesday, May 9th at 1PM followed by a reception. All who knew Don are invited to come remember him.