Donald Hunerberg

Don Hunerberg, born on March 28, 1950, in Jamaica, New York, passed away at age 74, on December 30, 2024, in Great Neck, New York, due to chronic systolic heart failure.

He is survived by his wife Desiree Sedee, daughter Mariel Prior, son Evan Hunerberg, sister Nancy Hunerberg, and brother Edward Hunerberg. He was the son of Elizabeth Sullivan and Edward Hunerberg.

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After graduating from high school in Mineola, Don went to art school in Dayton, Ohio. But, he soon found a deeper calling in music and sound. This led him to the Institute of Sonology in Utrecht, The Netherlands, where he dove into electronic music and met his future wife, Dees. When he returned to the U.S., he started as an apprentice at Plaza Sound Recording Studios under Gregg Raffa, and through many long hours, he worked his way up to the album jackets of artists like The Ramones, Blondie, and Rupert Holmes as lead recording engineer.

During the studio’s off-hours, Don helped define the sound of New York City’s underground post-punk music. At the studio inside Radio City Music Hall, he helped artists like Sonic Youth, Liquid Liquid, and Glenn Branca manifest fringe musical visions that planted the seeds of New Wave and Indie Rock. Don and his close friend Andy Blinx also contributed their own outsider music to the era, under the name Intense Molecular Activity (I.M.A.).

But, Don had plans to raise a family too. He downshifted to a freelance career, and embraced his new role as a stay-at-home dad and husband. Throughout the 48 years of his marriage, all the way through his final days alive, he made sure his wife Dees was always taken care of. And together with Dees, he built a home and family life around love and support.

Reliably on schedule every night, Don honed a craft of dinner-making that bonded the family as his kids grew up. He was deeply present for his children, and said his highest achievement in life was being a parent and grandparent. He nurtured enthusiasm, resilience, and balance in his kids, and insisted that he looked at them as his proudest accomplishments.

As his kids grew up, Don found opportunities to support his community too. He donated his skills to the Long Islands Arts Council, helped with odd jobs at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, volunteered for the Long Island Crisis Center, and delivered his special mix of nonjudgmental attention to his own clients as a counselor.

Donald Hunerberg radiated a serene, thoughtful presence, and sparkled with originality throughout his life. His family and friends keep him in their hearts with gratitude and love.

A memorial service will be held on June 1, 2025 in Nassau County with more details to come.

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