Donald Robert Osborn

Donald “Don” Osborn of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and Edwards, Colorado, died peacefully in his sleep early on the morning of December 19, 2025 at the age of 96. He was beloved by his wife of 39 years, Maite Osborn, his children, and his grandchildren. He was a former longtime resident of Scarsdale, NY and New York City.

Donald Robert Osborn (Don, DRO, or Papa) was born in New York City on October 9, 1929 to Robert W. and Ruth (née Compton) Osborn. He grew up in Buffalo, NY and New Rochelle, NY, where he graduated from high school. He attended Cornell University on a Navy ROTC scholarship and, after graduating in 1951, served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. He was on active duty on the U.S.S. Corry in the Mediterranean and later at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay; during this time, he sharpened his card playing and golf skills, amassing poker winnings which he would later use to pay his initial law school fees.

Don matriculated at Columbia Law School where he was on the Law Review and finished second in his class in 1957, while earning spending money playing darts and shuffleboard on the Upper West Side. He joined Sullivan & Cromwell later that year; being a lawyer at S&C was the only job he ever had. Don was partner in the tax group of S&C from 1964 to 1996 and Of Counsel for many years after his retirement. He was primarily involved with the affairs of individual clients, leading to extensive involvement with charitable foundations, horse racing, art collections, cable television, newsprint journalism and the beer and wine industries and advising these clients on a broad spectrum of matters, not just tax law. He advised domestic clients such as McKinsey & Company, Inc., The National Gallery of Art, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Paul Mellon’s Rokeby Stables. He also represented Wm S. Paley and became a director of CBS. He was also involved with The White Burke Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Museum of Broadcasting, and Kirkland and Hamilton Colleges. Internationally, he advised clients in Bermuda, Europe and Asia and the companies they owned, such as San Miguel in The Philippines and Spain and Averys of Bristol, a wine merchant company in England. Don loved S&C and cherished his relationships with his partners and colleagues. He was a great mentor and his tough love approach to mentoring was acknowledged and appreciated by those who worked with him.

Don loved sports, coached teams for each of his children (including the championship Greenacres Gremlins middle school girls basketball team), and was a regular with his children at Knicks and Ranger games. He was an active member of Scarsdale Golf Club for more than 40 years -- as a golfer, a paddle tennis champion (he was known for his quick hands at the net), a Governor, and an inveterate Saturday afternoon poker player.

After his first marriage to Marcia Lontz ended in divorce, Don married Marie Antoinette (Maite) Johnson in September 1986. Maite shared Don's love of competition, and together they won numerous bridge championships in the places they called home. In 1991, they opened their home in Colorado to their blended family for skiing, golfing, hiking, rafting and poker adventures -- memories that their grandchildren hold close. Mostly though, the family reveled in being together.

With a generous heart, fierce loyalty, and a quick wit, Don was a devoted family man who was steadfastly supportive of those he loved. Along with "walking around money" and an encyclopedic knowledge of your travel itinerary, Don's family could also count on him to dispense bits of advice on losing at cards, missing a putt, and dealing with financial mistakes; much of this advice has become formative axioms for the family. He was also deeply competitive -- often with a twinkle in his eye -- a quality that is shared by many of his children and grandchildren, despite years of losing to him at poker, bridge, mini golf, Monopoly, and bowling.

Don is survived by his wife, Maite; his children, David Osborn (Natalia), Judy Osborn, Rob Manning-Osborn (Mia), Michelle Damon (Rod), Yvonne Carter (Rick), and Christine Harrison; his grandchildren Emma Osborn, Abby Osborn, Peter Jorgensen, Suz Manning-Osborn, Drew Manning-Osborn, Jonathan Camp, Tim Camp, Matthew Camp, David Camp, Christopher Leibold, Adam Leibold, Alex Leibold, Nick Leibold, Guiliana Leibold, Claudia Harrison, Seth Harrison, George Harrison, Dania Popov, Reginald Damon, Logan Damon, Ashlyn Carter-Hays, and Addison Carter-Laganella; 9 great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. His sisters, Carol Peniston and Phyllis Muir, and his beloved golden retriever, Alfie, predeceased him.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses at Vicar's Landing Health Center who provided him with not only excellent care but friendship, laughter and comfort.

A celebration of his life will be held sometime in the New Year. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL.