Donald J. Ware

Donald John “DJ” Ware, age 82, of Northville, passed away on October 23, 2026. He was born on February 20, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan; son of Donald Ware and Dorothy Ford (neé Atkinson). He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Carol Ratcliffe Ware on June 24, 1967.

DJ graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1962. He then attended Adrian College graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. While at Adrian he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and served as the social chair organizing many legendary parties. After graduating, DJ worked as an elementary school teacher for Detroit Public Schools; while teaching he obtained a master's degree from Oakland University. He went on to work in the private sector selling educational materials. In 1976 his family moved to La Jolla, California and soon after he and Carol started their own educational sales and consulting firm, The Ware Group. DJ retired in 2016 after over 4 decades of running a successful family business.

Family was everything to DJ. He was a proud and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He shared a love of sports with his family and over the years he attended countless high school and college games to cheer on his children and grandchildren while they sailed or played baseball, softball, lacrosse or soccer. He loved college and professional sports as well, often getting up early or staying up late to watch games with his sons. Along with Carol, DJ enjoyed throwing a legendary annual 4th of July party in La Jolla - an annual tradition beloved by family and friends. He and Carol loved many cats over the years.

DJ loved to play golf with his friends. For decades he took an annual trip with his best friend to Montana to fly fish; a trip he so loved. He also traveled to Argentina and Chile to fly fish. In his youth he worked at a summer camp in Northern Michigan, as well as at a ski resort. He loved to camp and be outside and loved to take “aimless drives” with no agenda other than looking at fall leaves or the snow, checking out the waves at the beach or taking pictures of barns. He loved to be busy!

DJ was a dapper dresser and had a mustache that would make aficionados jealous. He had the gift of gab and everyone he met was a friend. DJ loved to tell stories about his travels and life experiences. He loved US history and books and documentaries about historic figures and our presidents. He was artistic, clever, funny, honest, loyal and incredibly strong. His love for his wife, children and grandchildren was unwavering. He had friends of all ages living all over the country and he kept tabs on all of them. He will be remembered for his positive disposition, his generosity and his thoughtfulness.

He is survived by his children, Christina (Peter) Dougherty, Paul Ware, and Matthew Ware; his grandchildren Aidan, Malone, and Rory Dougherty; and his sister Ann James, as well as his niece and nephews in California, Colorado and Michigan. DJ was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, his parents and his son Timothy Ware.

DJ was a gardner at heart and spent countless hours in his beautiful gardens in both La Jolla and Northville. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or flowers in your garden and think of him as you watch it grow. Among his favorites were shasta daisies, profusion zinnias, peonies, lilacs, hydrangeas, and the cherokee rose. He loved redbud and dogwood trees.

A private family memorial will be held at a later date.