Donna Regina Waechter, Ph.D

Donna Regina Waechter, Ph.D . 84, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2024.Donna was born November 13, 1939, in Louisville, KY to Dorothy and Wendell Hicks.

She received a BA in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, and a M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Louisville. She received her doctorate from Kent State University in Measurement and Evaluation. Donna’s love of dance was a major joy during her entire life. As a teenager, she performed with the Louisville Ballet, then  was a teacher and ballroom dance performer with an Arthur Murray studio in Louisville, rising to the level of teaching the other instructors by the time she was 20. She was a national ballroom competitor in multiple states until she was 80, winning many 1st places across the country in major events. Donna enjoyed tap, Zumba, and other forms of dance, and excelled in them all. She continued dancing ballet through the end of 2023. Professionally, she was a Psychologist for the former Weaver School in Tallmadge; a School Psychologist for the Akron Public Schools; and a Research Coordinator for the Center for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Research at Summa Health System in Akron. She also taught part time at the graduate level at The University of Akron, Kent State University, John Carroll University, Walsh University in Canton, and was a Visiting Professor at City University in London, England.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Thomas Charles Waechter of Akron; sister, Bonnie Searles (Charles) of Naples, FL; daughters Deborah Ammerman (Charles), Alicia Thomas (Brian), and Hillary Robinson; step-daughter, Holly Roeder of SC; grandchildren Egan and Sean Ammerman, Libby McGraw, Maddie Munoz, Abbey and Molly Thomas, and great granddaughters Charlotte McGraw and Vayda Ammerman. She is very much loved by all of them and will be greatly missed.

The family extends sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Arden Courts and Ohio Living Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM on Thursday, May 16, 2024 and funeral service will be 11 AM on Friday May 17, 2024 at the Billow Funeral Home 85 N. Miller Rd. Fairlawn, Ohio 44333. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.