He was born in Washington and graduated from Coolidge High School. As a teenager, he helped foil a robbery at a High's ice cream store at Georgia Avenue and Piney Branch Road NW, where he worked. After the robber fled the store, the young Mr. Olmert pursued him.
"Donald got on the streetcar until he saw a policeman on the street and yelled at the policeman," said his nephew, Michael Olmert. Police captured the robber.
After high school, Mr. Olmert entered the Navy and served in the Bahamas, where he flew on patrol bombers. He worked in banking and automobile sales for many years, mostly handling auto loans. For about five years in the 1960s, he worked in banking in Hawaii, where he grew to love the culture, language and people.
A Kensington resident, Mr. Olmert was active in the Izaak Walton League, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Boy Scouts. He also belonged to the Hawaii State Society, from which he earned the nickname "kokua," or "helper," a tribute to his volunteer efforts.
For 14 years, Mr. Olmert played the ukulele for the Aloha Serenaders, a band that specialized in Hawaiian music.
His marriage to Rosemary Menikheim Valence ended in divorce. A daughter from the marriage, Joanne Olmert, died in 1998.
Survivors include his wife, Florine Olmert of Kensington; three sons from his first marriage, Christopher Olmert of Thurmont, Stephen Olmert of Rockville and Philip Olmert of Paw Paw, W.Va.; two stepchildren, April Skinner of Great Mills and Adam Grant of Kensington; a brother; and 11 grandchildren.