Darren Michael McDonald

Darren Michael McDonald was born on March 16, 1959 and passed away on February 11, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

After nearly a year long struggle with depression, Darren lost the battle and joined his father in heaven where he is at peace.

Darren has spent his whole life in the restaurant business starting at age 14 working as a bus boy in a French restaurant in Amityville, NY.

After graduating from Amityville High School, he attended the University of Buffalo. He then moved to Denver, Colorado and worked in restaurants and hotels. He eventually returned to New York to work at the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group as a waiter, working himself up as General Manager. He was responsible for overseeing the construction and launching of many restaurants for that group all around the United States, including Las Vegas, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami and Dallas. After many years with Smith & Wollensky his next move was to Ocean City, Maryland, where he resurrected a failing restaurant into a thriving and popular culinary establishment called Lighthouse Sound. His next move was to Ft. Worth, Texas to oversee the construction and opening of B&B Butchers & Restaurant working as Managing Partner. Then off to Houston to Berg Hospitality Restaurant Group and eventually becoming the President and COO.

The restaurant business was his life. All through his travels he has met and befriended many interesting people. He helped wherever there was a need. That was his forte, if anyone needed help Darren was there.

Darren is preceded by his father, Joseph P. McDonald. He leaves behind his mother JoAnn DiDomenico McDonald, his older brother Joseph F. McDonald (Janet) and his sister, Regina Taliaferro. He is the beloved uncle of Ryan McDonald, Megan McDonald, Annie Sider (Howard) and Emily Taliaferro. He also had a large extended family of first and second cousins.

A celebration of Darren’s life will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 12pm in the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Father Thomas Lapointe officiating. Darren will be laid to rest in the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. The family invites friends to join them at the family's home for additional fellowship following the service, located at 261 N Park Ave, Dothan, AL 36303.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations be made in Darren’s honor to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at supporting.afsp.org or to the Humane World for Animals at www.humaneworld.org.

Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com