Donald R. Hyatt

Don Hyatt was born and raised in Rochester, New York. He passed away May 23, 2015 at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Weston, Florida. He continued to live in Rochester for many years, and completed his formal schooling there. He was subsequently employed by Eastman Kodak Corporation as a photo engraver. His further employment and college studies were interrupted due to the Korean War. He enlisted and served 4 years, including a tour of duty in Korea for 1.5 years. Don was awarded a Battle star for the surprise amphibious landing in Ichon, western South Korea in September of 1950. During his tour of duty, he completed 121 low level enemy aerial combat missions over North & South Korea. For all of these missions, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, and the air medal with four Oak Leaf clusters. On just his 2nd combat mission in February 1951 over enemy lines his C-47 aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. After a crash landing, and battling enemy ground fire he helped his fellow airmen get back to the United Nation’s offensive lines. An experience such as that would make most men never fly again, however Don flew in an additional 119 combat missions. Once stateside, his first introduction with automotive retailing was selling Hudsons in 1953. In later years he became the manager of Cecil-Holland Ford, and general manager of the William Lehman DeSoto-Plymouth agency in Miami and Miami Beach. 1957 proved to be an important year, as he and his longtime partner Jack Martin established Hyatt & Martin Auto Sales, Inc, as well as Hyatt & Martin Winnebago motor homes, Inc. All of his hard work and success was recognized in 1972 when General Motors awarded Don a Cadillac-Pontiac franchise in North Georgia. Which later became the premiere Cadillac-Pontiac-Winnebago dealer in Marietta, Georgia. Always a leader Don was later elected the president of the North Georgia Automobile Dealers Association. In 1975, Don sold his dealerships to Bloomshine Pontiac and returned back to Miami. This proved to be his last move, as L.P. Evans Mercedes Benz employed him as a manager for 33 successful years, despite the firm being purchased by AutoNation in 1998. Finally in 2007, after 53 years in the automotive retail business Don retired from Mercedes Benz. Always wanting to be part of “the deal” Don was a director of Principal Lenders Group, LLC and Treasurer of Benz Financial Services right up to his passing. Always the leader, he was also a past president of many organizations including The City of Miami, The State of Florida and the National Independent Automobile Dealer Association. Don is survived by his lovely wife, Irene Hyatt and his four grown children; Steven, attorney, Jane, Certified Financial Planner, Mark, Licensed Mortgage Banker and Louis, Doctor of Optometry. Also survived by his six grandchildren: Kevin (27), William (25), Elizabeth (22), Lynne (19), Matthew (14) and Melissa (11). Donald joins his son, Kevin Hyatt in enteral rest who preceded his death in 1981, as well as the mother of his 4 children Lynne Bello who passed in 2011. Visitation will be held on Wednesday the 27th from 4-8 PM at T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Thursday the 28th 11 AM at St. Benedicts Episcopal Church in Plantation, with entombment immediately following at Southern Memorial Park in Miami. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to “The Humane Society of Broward County”. Arrangements entrusted to T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home, 7001 NW 4th Street Plantation, FL 33317. (954) 587-6888. Online condolences may be made to the family at tmralph.com