November 2, 2021
November 2, 2021
Hard to say what it was about Don, because it was so many things. I don’t think he ever met a stranger, I felt like I had known him forever when I first met him. He seemed to have an ability to make everyone feel special. And whenever he showed up for a field trip or birdwalk or with Lisa for one of our annual Holiday events, you just knew it would be more fun.
I have enjoyed reading the tributes and looking at the pictures, many of which are so classically Don- although he had height advantage, he was always first to scramble up on anything available to get a better view. Last spring, he tried to show me baby hummingbirds in a nest that were at about chin-level for him- and looked down at me and said, “oh, but you’re not 6-5”. So observant!
And his stories…one of my favorites was hearing about caring for Musk Ox (Ovibos) in Alaska, where it was so cold (“how cold was it, Don?”) that they had to thaw the tires to move the trucks because the tires had frozen flat. Too cold for me!!
His generosity knew no bounds. He’d often tell us about little authentic restaurants and coffee shops he found on his bike while cruising LA. Eric encouraged him to write a guide book, but what he did was write up a two page single space listing of places he thought we might try on our way to/from birding sites or when rooting for UCLA. We haven’t followed up on his list, but maybe we will honor his memory and start checking them out.
There wasn’t enough time. I know there were more stories and more birds that didn’t get told or seen, it’s still hard to believe that he won’t come peddling up and lean his bike against a tree at Kenneth Hahn Park for a birdwalk. He left a big hole in our hearts and many others. Thanks, Don, for the love and the silliness and the birds, the world is a better place for having had you in it!
I have enjoyed reading the tributes and looking at the pictures, many of which are so classically Don- although he had height advantage, he was always first to scramble up on anything available to get a better view. Last spring, he tried to show me baby hummingbirds in a nest that were at about chin-level for him- and looked down at me and said, “oh, but you’re not 6-5”. So observant!
And his stories…one of my favorites was hearing about caring for Musk Ox (Ovibos) in Alaska, where it was so cold (“how cold was it, Don?”) that they had to thaw the tires to move the trucks because the tires had frozen flat. Too cold for me!!
His generosity knew no bounds. He’d often tell us about little authentic restaurants and coffee shops he found on his bike while cruising LA. Eric encouraged him to write a guide book, but what he did was write up a two page single space listing of places he thought we might try on our way to/from birding sites or when rooting for UCLA. We haven’t followed up on his list, but maybe we will honor his memory and start checking them out.
There wasn’t enough time. I know there were more stories and more birds that didn’t get told or seen, it’s still hard to believe that he won’t come peddling up and lean his bike against a tree at Kenneth Hahn Park for a birdwalk. He left a big hole in our hearts and many others. Thanks, Don, for the love and the silliness and the birds, the world is a better place for having had you in it!
