Obituary of Donald M Axleroad

Donald Morton Axleroad passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2017, at his home. He was born in 1935 in Albany, NY. He leaves his wife, Erica Weingast Axleroad, of Stamford, Connecticut; his sister, Helene Gross of Poughkeepsie; and nephews Kevin Gross of Chicago, Illinois, and Cary Gross (Anna Reisman) of Woodbridge, Connecticut, as well as two grandnieces and one grandnephew, and his friend of many years, Genevieve Murphy.
He graduated from Poughkeepsie High School and received his undergraduate degree from the Pratt Institute. He founded The Food Group, a preeminent advertising agency, which he led for three decades. He was also an award-winning artist. After retiring, he became active in the Stamford community where he founded the Artist's Initiative of the ARI (Always Reaching for Independence) organization, where he taught developmentally disabled adults to draw and paint. He sponsored outreach events to educate the public about Alzheimer's disease. He was awarded the 2016 Stamford United Way Volunteer of the Year Award. He was a member of the New York City Salmagundi Club, the Stamford Art Association, the Greenwich Art Society, and many others. He was a master printmaker and his prints won many awards. (See donaxleroad.com) Much of his artwork focused on Greek mythology and drew connections between the ancient and modern worlds.
Don lived a full and vibrant life. He loved sailing and traveling; he loved sketching whimsical portraits of people he'd just met; he loved cooking feasts for his friends and family, the more the better; but most of all, he loved spending time with his family, who will remember him always as a generous, witty, one-of-a-kind person.
Funeral services are at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Agudath Sholom Synagogue, 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue in Stamford, CT. Interment will follow at Agudath Sholom Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M Gallagher Funeral Home (203)359-9999. For more information, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com