Donald James Pordash

Donald James Pordash, 66, passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Friday, August 4, at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 1927 SW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. Private Interment: Emerald Hills Memorial Park, Kennedale. Celebration: 6-7 p.m. Friday, August 4, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Visitation will follow the celebration.
Memorials: Donations may be made to Mission Arlington, missionarlington.org, 817-277-6620.

Donnie was born on August 1, 1956 in Brownsville, PA to Donald James Pordash and Judith Ann Konek Clark. He worked in the pizzeria business, meeting his wife, Kristin, at Pete and Joey’s restaurant in Arlington in 1984. Donnie also worked for Delta Airlines for several years. DP was the Assistant Vice President of Customer Relations for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, where he worked for 32 years. He started as an usher and worked his way up. He trained all of his customer service representatives and other seasonal employees and always told them to be kind and treat others the way they would like to be treated.

DP loved all sports and played football, baseball and basketball growing up. Donnie coached Ryan’s basketball team during elementary school and helped coach soccer and baseball. He was an avid Texas Rangers Baseball fan and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Black and gold were his favorite colors. He enjoyed listening to oldies music and 60’s and 70’s rock.

He was friendly, warm, welcoming and very generous. DP never met a stranger. He was very sociable and lit up any room he entered. He was always thinking about others. His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He always wanted to share special times with them at his family home. “Football Sundays” are legendary at the Pordash home, and football season was always eagerly anticipated. He dearly loved his children and grandsons, and loved being known as Papi to Grant and Drew. He spoke with Ryan and Katie on the phone every day, wondering who was coming for dinner and what we should eat. They will miss his smile.

DP was preceded in death by his younger brother, Billy, his father and his grandparents.

Survivors: Wife of 37 years, Kristin; Son, Ryan and his wife, Alison; Daughter, Katelyn and her husband, Damian; Grandsons, Grant and Drew; Mother, Judy; Brother, Randy and his wife, Tammy and their children and grandchildren.