Donald Joseph Incerto passed peacefully from this life on February 25, 2025, at home and having just reached his ninety-fifth birthday two days before.  Don was born on February 23, 1930, in Norwalk, Connecticut, the twelfth of fourteen children born to Domenick Incerto, an Italian immigrant, and Mary Mace Incerto, a first-generation citizen of this country, her family also having immigrated from Italy.  Don spent his youth in Norwalk in the company of his many siblings and cousins, comprising a large and loving family who all fondly nicknamed him “Duck.”  He attended Fairfield Prep High School, where he met the woman who would become his wife and would remain so for seventy (70) years, Janet Lee (Spence) Incerto. He was the first of his siblings to attend college and graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

After graduating and marrying Jan, the couple moved to Maryland in 1954 so that Don could pursue a career as a project engineer at the U. S. Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River, Maryland. In 1961, the couple moved to Hampton, Virginia temporarily before moving to Houston, Texas, where Donald had taken a job as an aerospace engineer with NASA, serving as head of the Postflight Trajectory Analysis Section for the Gemini and Apollo missions.  From 1972 to 1975 he worked on the Skylab Program and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.  His work continued into the Space Shuttle Program, working on earth observations experiments, navigation and other aspects of the shuttle orbiter operations.  In the last part of his career he worked on operational planning, development of information systems and other aspects of the Space Station.  He retired from NASA Johnson Space Center in February of 1987 and transitioned into the real estate field where he worked as a broker for over 20 years.

Don and Jan raised their four (4) children, Debra, Scott, Tim and Robbie, first in Houston and later moving to Clear Lake City.  Robbie predeceased both Don and Jan, and Jan passed away less than four months prior to Don.  Don is survived by daughter Debra and her husband, Mark Lancaster, of Clear Lake City; son Scott and his wife Kathy, of Austin, Texas; and son Timothy and wife Kathryn, of Chicago.  Don is also survived by seven grandchildren: Mark Lancaster (and wife Paula), Jason Lancaster (and wife Laura), Patrick Incerto (and wife Emily), Michael Incerto, Andrew Incerto, Robert Incerto and Jacquelyn Incerto; and by eight great-grandchildren:  Mark III and Mallory Lancaster; Reagan, Rylan, Reid and Rynlie Lancaster: and Weldon and Stevie Incerto.

Don will be remembered by all for his enjoyment of life (especially a glass of red wine and a good hand of pinochle or the many trips to the horse races).  He and Jan traveled extensively throughout their lives and well into their eighties, enjoying good food and adventures that accompanied it.  Most of all Don cherished his loving family!

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 15500 El Camino Real, in Clear Lake City.  A burial will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery, located at 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598.  For those wishing to give a memorial remembrance, donations may be made to Aspire Chicago a special needs non-profit organization (www.aspirechicago.com).