Donald Vincent Williams, the retired Baltimore City schools director of physical education, died of cancer Dec. 26 at Seasons Hospice at Northwest Hospital Center. He was 70 and lived in Woodlawn.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Turners Station, he was a 1960 graduate of Sollers Point Junior-Senior High School.
He earned a bachelor's degree at what is now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and belonged to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He played baseball and ran track. While in school, a Boston Red Sox scout tried to recruit him as a pitcher, but he declined the offer.
He also belonged to the Arnold Air Society's Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Squadron.
Mr. Williams later earned a master's degree from Coppin State University.
Mr. Williams began teaching physical education in 1964 at Thomas G. Hayes Elementary School in East Baltimore. He also worked part time at Montgomery Ward and at the city's Department of Recreation and Parks. He retired about 10 years ago from the city schools system as director of physical education, athletics and intramural sports.
After taking several years off, Mr. Williams joined Sojourner-Douglass College and became chairman of the department of human growth and development.
He was a member of Good Shepherd Baptist Church and had served on its search committee and trustee board. Services were held there Thursday.
Mr. Williams enjoyed photography, cooking, dancing, singing, going to flea markets and shopping for cars. Family members said he was a good storyteller.
Survivors include his wife of two years, the former Ella Waters; a daughter, Tanya Williams Thomas of Woodlawn; three brothers, Levelt Williams of Washington, Morris Williams of Shrevesport, La., and Clarence Williams of Baltimore; five sisters, Sylvia Mason of Lavonia, Ga., and Louise Thomas, Maxcene Williams, Burnelle Williams and Linda Bankins, all of Baltimore; two stepsons, David Waters II of Baltimore and Devagus Waters of Alexandria, Va.; four stepdaughters, April Bell of Wilmington, Del., Sylvia Waters of Baltimore, Davette Kiah of Falls Church, Va., and Elizabeth Harris of Bear, Del.; five grandchildren; and 15 stepgrandchildren. His wife of 34 years, Shirley D. Haines, died in 1998.