Obituary for Donald B. Creath
Donald Blades Creath, born October 20, 1931, died November 26, 2021. Don was born and raised in Pocomoke City, Maryland. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
He started his career at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware serving in several engineering and production management positions. During his time at DuPont, he was drafted into the US Army where he served 2 years (1954 to 1956) stationed in post-WWII Europe. After his Army service he returned to DuPont where he met Amelia Gerhardt, a toxicologist, at a company mixer. Their meeting was accidental as he intended to ask another woman to dance. When he found she was otherwise occupied, he asked the next nearest woman to dance, and she ended up becoming his wife.
After a decade in Delaware, he moved the family to Ontario, Canada so he could go to graduate school. Upon receiving his MBA, Don moved his family yet again to Corning, NY, where he was employed by Corning Glass Works (Corning Inc.). He worked at CGW for 5 years having positions in business development and financial management, making Corning his forever home.
In 1969 he founded EDC Management, Inc., a local property management firm handling a portfolio of mostly multi-family residential communities from Bath to Elmira. Shortly after starting EDC, he also began teaching as an Assistant Professor of Management at Corning Community College. Professionally, Don was a Certified Property Manager who served as President of the Institute of Real Estate Management’s regional chapters for Western NY and Florida-Georgia, and taught many of their certification courses. He was also a licensed Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker in NY and FL.
He has been very active in the last 20 years in community service projects, serving on many boards, too numerous to mention. He felt community service was his third career and dedicated himself to helping his community by serving 16 years as a Steuben County Legislator representing the City of Corning.
He has been honored with numerous local awards for his service. They include from the Chamber of Commerce--the Chairman's Award, the Star Award, Small Businessperson of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award; Spencer Crest Nature Center Conservator of the Year; the top ARTS Council Award for Support of the Arts; nominee for the Jefferson Award for Public Service; and Legislator of the Year, among other awards.
He served on the Corning Community College Board of Trustees for 22 years and the NYS Community College Trustees Association for 12 years. He loved to go to these conferences to both advocate for CCC and to bring back new ideas he helped to implement. These trips were often combined with visits to Tucson and Las Vegas.
Don loved to travel and went on educational trips all over the world. Many of these trips were to study public housing in other countries such as Russia, Spain, Japan, and Australia. Other trips were led by educators diving into the history of a particular region. One he particularly enjoyed was a cruise down the Danube River studying the musical history of the region. He was also a regular attendee of the Chautauqua Institute.
Don was VERY active in the local community. In the late ‘80s he started the Corning flower planter box program. More recently he led a group of Rotarians to develop Veterans Memorial Park around the Civil War Monument on Park Avenue. Don was also instrumental in the development of the Tri-County First Responders Honor Park in Erwin. His most recent project involved raising funds for and overseeing the installation & dedication of the park’s new statue, “The Lifesaver.”
For the past several years, Don has lived in the Appleridge Senior Living Community in Horseheads. When the weather wasn’t conducive to playing golf at the Corning Country Club, he played cards with close friends several times a week, both at Appleridge and the Club. He also cherished his Rotary Club meetings and Coffee Club with friends. He touched the lives of many people.
Don remained active until his final hours. He was with family for a celebratory dinner just 3 days before his death. Until the weather turned cooler this fall, he golfed weekly and, with a martini in hand, greeted about 70 guests at his 90th birthday party in October.
Don was predeceased by his parents Philip and Janet, and by his wife Amelia Gerhardt Creath (in 1975). He is survived by his children Kathy of Tucson, AZ, Rob of Lebanon, PA, and Tom (Sarah) of Corning, NY as well as grandchildren, Jack, Molly, Katie, and Ellie. He is also survived by his sisters Barbara Foster and Betsy Cheney (Grant).
Don was passionate about community service. His last project, the First Responder’s Honor Park, occupied his evenings and weekends to recognize local men and women who put their lives on the line for us. Please consider a donation to the Crystal City Parks Foundation in Don’s memory (https://crystalcityparks.org/donations/ ; 101 Columbia St. Suite 100 Corning, NY 14830).
Calling hours are Wednesday December 8 from 4-7pm at Phillips Funeral Home, 17 West Pulteney St Corning, NY 14830. The funeral service will be held Thursday December 9 at 11am at the First Presbyterian Church, 1 E First St Corning, NY 14830. Interment with military honors in the church’s Memorial Garden will follow the ceremony.
He started his career at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware serving in several engineering and production management positions. During his time at DuPont, he was drafted into the US Army where he served 2 years (1954 to 1956) stationed in post-WWII Europe. After his Army service he returned to DuPont where he met Amelia Gerhardt, a toxicologist, at a company mixer. Their meeting was accidental as he intended to ask another woman to dance. When he found she was otherwise occupied, he asked the next nearest woman to dance, and she ended up becoming his wife.
After a decade in Delaware, he moved the family to Ontario, Canada so he could go to graduate school. Upon receiving his MBA, Don moved his family yet again to Corning, NY, where he was employed by Corning Glass Works (Corning Inc.). He worked at CGW for 5 years having positions in business development and financial management, making Corning his forever home.
In 1969 he founded EDC Management, Inc., a local property management firm handling a portfolio of mostly multi-family residential communities from Bath to Elmira. Shortly after starting EDC, he also began teaching as an Assistant Professor of Management at Corning Community College. Professionally, Don was a Certified Property Manager who served as President of the Institute of Real Estate Management’s regional chapters for Western NY and Florida-Georgia, and taught many of their certification courses. He was also a licensed Real Estate Appraiser and Real Estate Broker in NY and FL.
He has been very active in the last 20 years in community service projects, serving on many boards, too numerous to mention. He felt community service was his third career and dedicated himself to helping his community by serving 16 years as a Steuben County Legislator representing the City of Corning.
He has been honored with numerous local awards for his service. They include from the Chamber of Commerce--the Chairman's Award, the Star Award, Small Businessperson of the Year, and the Lifetime Achievement Award; Spencer Crest Nature Center Conservator of the Year; the top ARTS Council Award for Support of the Arts; nominee for the Jefferson Award for Public Service; and Legislator of the Year, among other awards.
He served on the Corning Community College Board of Trustees for 22 years and the NYS Community College Trustees Association for 12 years. He loved to go to these conferences to both advocate for CCC and to bring back new ideas he helped to implement. These trips were often combined with visits to Tucson and Las Vegas.
Don loved to travel and went on educational trips all over the world. Many of these trips were to study public housing in other countries such as Russia, Spain, Japan, and Australia. Other trips were led by educators diving into the history of a particular region. One he particularly enjoyed was a cruise down the Danube River studying the musical history of the region. He was also a regular attendee of the Chautauqua Institute.
Don was VERY active in the local community. In the late ‘80s he started the Corning flower planter box program. More recently he led a group of Rotarians to develop Veterans Memorial Park around the Civil War Monument on Park Avenue. Don was also instrumental in the development of the Tri-County First Responders Honor Park in Erwin. His most recent project involved raising funds for and overseeing the installation & dedication of the park’s new statue, “The Lifesaver.”
For the past several years, Don has lived in the Appleridge Senior Living Community in Horseheads. When the weather wasn’t conducive to playing golf at the Corning Country Club, he played cards with close friends several times a week, both at Appleridge and the Club. He also cherished his Rotary Club meetings and Coffee Club with friends. He touched the lives of many people.
Don remained active until his final hours. He was with family for a celebratory dinner just 3 days before his death. Until the weather turned cooler this fall, he golfed weekly and, with a martini in hand, greeted about 70 guests at his 90th birthday party in October.
Don was predeceased by his parents Philip and Janet, and by his wife Amelia Gerhardt Creath (in 1975). He is survived by his children Kathy of Tucson, AZ, Rob of Lebanon, PA, and Tom (Sarah) of Corning, NY as well as grandchildren, Jack, Molly, Katie, and Ellie. He is also survived by his sisters Barbara Foster and Betsy Cheney (Grant).
Don was passionate about community service. His last project, the First Responder’s Honor Park, occupied his evenings and weekends to recognize local men and women who put their lives on the line for us. Please consider a donation to the Crystal City Parks Foundation in Don’s memory (https://crystalcityparks.org/donations/ ; 101 Columbia St. Suite 100 Corning, NY 14830).
Calling hours are Wednesday December 8 from 4-7pm at Phillips Funeral Home, 17 West Pulteney St Corning, NY 14830. The funeral service will be held Thursday December 9 at 11am at the First Presbyterian Church, 1 E First St Corning, NY 14830. Interment with military honors in the church’s Memorial Garden will follow the ceremony.