Donald Mullen

Donald P. “Don” Mullen, 73, of Guilford, passed peacefully on March 22, 2025, after a long illness. Don will be remembered for his beaming smile, his warm hugs, and his unconditional love for his family, for his friends, for animals, and for his fellow members of the Shoreline community of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Born in Brookline, MA, to the late Isabelle M. Mullen and Donald R. Mullen, Don was raised in Bloomfield, where his family was active in the United Methodist Church and Boy Scouts. He graduated from Bloomfield High School, Allegheny College, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Don arrived at Guilford Veterinary Hospital in 1979, straight from vet school, and stayed for 43 years, working tirelessly with his partners and staff to provide the best possible care with utmost compassion. He loved his colleagues, his patients and their families. He retired in 2022.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 10 years, Christine Donahue Mullen; his brother and fellow Eagle Scout, John (Kate) of Salisbury, MA; three sons of whom he was so very proud, Wes (Olivia) of Manhattan, Ben (Carly Elman) of Clinton, and Ted, of Madison; six grandchildren who were a source of endless joy: Ellie, Clay, Mercury, Maddie, Moses and Ava; his niece, Emma (James) of Brookline, MA; two grand-nieces and several aunts and uncles. Don was predeceased by his nephew, Connor.

An avid birder, Don loved spotting birds on Hammonasset Beach and on his birding trips all over the world. He birded throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and South America, as well as in England, Ireland, France, Kenya, Namibia, and Thailand. One of his favorite trips was to Cuba with David Sibley in 2019.

Members of Guilford Yacht Club, Don and Christine loved taking family, friends and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lincoln, on their boat, Spirit, for picnics off the Thimble Islands, Faulkner’s Light, and Mattituck. They enjoyed cruising on Spirit, especially to Shelter Island.

Don credited Alcoholics Anonymous with giving him such a joyful life, by saving his life. In 2006, when he realized the disease of alcoholism was killing him and causing his family immense pain, he attended his first AA meeting, at the North Madison Congregational Church. He found the help he needed and attended two meetings a day for many years, from Branford to Essex. He became a pillar of the AA Shoreline community, helping many to find recovery. In January, he celebrated 18 years of sobriety. 

Don was diagnosed in 2022 with a rare lung disease, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He began needing oxygen tanks last fall and in January, underwent the only treatment for IPF, a bilateral lung transplant. His family is profoundly grateful to the nurses, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and physicians at Winchester Lung Center, where he was diagnosed and treated, and at NYU Langone, where he received his lung transplant. They cared for Don with extraordinary expertise and unfailing kindness.

Don’s family is also deeply grateful to Don and Christine’s neighbors at Long Hill Farm, who during his months-long hospitalization in Manhattan, made sure Lincoln was well cared for and offered boundless support of all types.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the Women & Family Life Center in Guilford (womenandfamilylife.org) or the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue Trust. Members of AA could donate in Don’s memory.