Donald Alan Eifert

Published 11:38 am Monday, December 30, 2024

Donald Alan Eifert peacefully on December 21st, 2024.  He was 95 years old and active until the end.

Donald was born in New York City on May 17th, 1929.  He moved to Teaneck New Jersey with his parents Alan F Eifert and Helene Eifert in 1932. 

He graduated from Teaneck High School in 1947 and Gettysburg College in 1951 where he was Vice President of his class and an Officer of Sigma Chi.

He joined the army in 1952 where he was named “Soldier of the Post” at Fort Holabird.  He was selected for CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) training and then stationed in San Francisco as a CIC agent. After the Arm, he took advantage of the GI bill and studied Insurance, Money, and Banking at the Wharton Graduate School.

In 1954 he married Phyllis Allen in Lynchburg Virginia and joined his father’s insurance agency, Eifert, French and Company in New York City.  He became president in 1965 and built a small Independent Agency into a regional power house increasing revenues tenfold over his career. He was involved in many state insurance organizations and served on the Advisory Boards of the Hartford, Aetna, Crum & Forster, and Chubb Insurance Companies. Don also served as President of The Marsh Sanctuary and the Mt. Kisco Country Club.

Don and Phyllis retired to Tryon, North Carolina where they both became active members of the community. Don served on the boards of the Polk County Community Foundation, F.E.N.C.E, Tryon Arts Center, St. Luke’s Hospital, and Steps to Hope.  In addition to golf, Donald became an avid bridge player achieving the status of Ruby Life Master.  In recent years he played bridge every Saturday (online) with his beloved daughter, Laura Lee. 

Donald was preceded in death by his loving wife, Phyllis Allen Eifert in 2018. He is survived by his three children; Philip A Eifert, Laura Lee Montross and Donald Alan Eifert Jr. and seven grandchildren.

Donald’s legacy of service, leadership, and love will forever be cherished by those whose lives he touched.

There will be a Memorial Service on Thursday, January 9th at 1:00 pm at the McFarland Funeral Home in Tryon, North Carolina with a reception to follow (details to be announced). Friends and family are invited to celebrate his remarkable life and share memories.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Polk County Community Foundation, Steps to Hope, Tryon Fine Arts Center, or any organization that supports the community. 

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel

Tryon