ForeverMissed
Large image
Tributes
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!
November 2, 2021
November 2, 2021
Don and Lisa were stalwart volunteers at our annual Bob Dylanfest in Torrance every year. Their love of music was expressed in the hard work they put in setting up and packing up the festival that sandwiched the joy they expressed during the show. Don always had a gleam in his eye and witty banter to share. The news of his passing was a shocking blow and a reminder that life is fleeting, and we need to express compassion and joy in living every day. Sending love to Lisa and the rest of Don's family. What a great loss. Renee Safier www.andyandrenee.com
August 17, 2021
August 17, 2021
I lived in Humboldt County for the past 5 years and miss my birding friends in Southern California. On Friday August 13th, I went fishing for Albacore Tuna forty-five miles out of Trinidad. The fishing was great but the icing on the cake were the pelagic birds. Two species of albatross, storm petrels and Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters. I thought of Don. 
I manage the Bear Valley Springs Christmas Bird Count which Don participated in. It was always fun to have Don part of the gang. An expert birder and always an upbeat attitude. I miss him, we all miss him. 
July 21, 2021
July 21, 2021
A message shared by Hal Cohen, Hawkmeister of the Anza-Borrego Hawkwatch:
Hi Ann,
Below is a photo of Don at our place when we roasted caterpillars. Don was the first hawkwatcher that was willing to share a roasted caterpillar, a tradition that had its roots in the Native Cahuilla Indian culture. The Indians would have festivals during flower and caterpillar years. For several years I talked about sharing the historical aspect of a caterpillar roast. Finally Don stepped up and was willing to chomp on the critters. Don, Rose Leong and I enjoyed the crunchy roasted White-lined Sphinx Moth Caterpillars. During caterpillar years, the number of hawks stopping for their own feast is remarkable. Don would never hesitate to push the envelope. He had hawkeyes, never missing a migrating bird and sharing with his never ending wit. Each winter I would await the coming of the hawks and Don and Lisa. They would always be at the watch at the peak of the season. When they arrived, so did the hawks. We will dedicate the coming season to Don White and his spirit will always be part of the Borrego Valley Hawkwatch.
Best,
Hal
July 18, 2021
July 18, 2021
Dear family and friends of Don White: I am not a birder; I am a first cousin of Don's late mother, Gloria White. I did not know Don well, but we corresponded on family matters and the little bit that I was privileged to share made me realize what an exceptional and generous person he was. I can see from the other tributes on this site how those who knew him well loved and respected him. Everyone he touched was enriched by his presence and his memory will be with us forever. Sincerely, Faith Colish
July 8, 2021
July 8, 2021
Don led birding walks for Friends of Griffith Park since 2017. He was a favorite, so enthusiastic, witty, and a great educator inspiring our young attendees. We’d meet in Fern Dell, but I learned he was always early, so I’d show up early, as well, to spend time with him.

Don had just reached out to us to see if we were COVID-cleared in the park yet, so he could lead a hike again. From time to time, I’d also consult with him on bird IDs, recently whether I had photographed a house or purple finch. I thought purple because of the forked tail, but he still leaned toward female house finch, but added, “But I was wrong once before (or twice??)” That was Don!

The next Bird LA Day without Don with us in Griffith Park will be sad for many of our board of directors and those who enjoyed mornings with Don. Our sincere condolences go to Don’s family and close friends.
July 7, 2021
July 7, 2021
I was always happy to see Don at the front of the boat during pelagic trips. He had the best snacks and commentary! We shared a love of ice cream and compared notes on the ice cream places we visited across LA County. We attended many field trips together in the Angeles Forest. One time, I drove over a large rock in the mountains and was worried about my car's undercarriage. Don laid on the ground, checked out my car and provided reassurance. His sense of caring for people, animals and nature made him a hero to me. Before Bear Divide was a migration mecca for many, we shared the bliss (along with Ann and Eric) of witnessing an amazing number of Black-throated Gray Warblers pass over the divide. It was magical. I will miss Don greatly. Such a special guy!
July 7, 2021
July 7, 2021
Don is my first cousin. We were a year apart almost to the day. We may have not kept each up directly through the years but his sister Ande always did. Don was a gentle giant who cared about so many things when it came to this earth and this earth’s creatures. My aunt, his mother, always thought she was a conduit for him and that “he came from another life/planet”…. Maybe he was ❤️❤️
He always “marched to that different drummer” and why he is/was so much that more special.
July 7, 2021
July 7, 2021
I first met Don about nine years ago at a bird walk led by Ann and Eric Brooks at Hahn Park. I got to know him really well on a trip to Piute ponds not long after, when he joined my son and me in our car, and kept us engaged and entertained with his many humorous stories and witty remarks.

Preferring to ride a bicycle, eschewing cell phones, carrying paper maps everywhere, Don showed through his example that living life to the fullest doesn't need distracting modern conveniences. With his taste for simplicity, love of nature, and the depth and breadth of his reading, I often thought of Don as a modern-day Thoreau.

Don, Layton Pace, Alex Coffey and I formed a deep bond of friendship over the years -- we went together on so many big days, CBC's, pelagic excursions, and other birding trips big and small, all over SoCal and beyond. And in between trips, our quartet exchanged hundreds of emails with each other spanning bird ID's, tips and pointers, trivia, music, and just a little politics. Don's good cheer, his everpresent smile, his knowledge, his patience in seeking out small birds in big trees, his kindness, and his tireless energy all made every trip so thoroughly enjoyable, and his wit and wisdom brightened our correspondence. 

I can't imagine going birding again without thinking of Don being there with me. He promised he'd show me a California Condor someday..
July 6, 2021
July 6, 2021
I first met Don on Nick and Mary Freeman's yearly LAAS trip to the Owens Valley in 2016. His energy, good humor, passion for exploration, deep knowledge of natural history, and tolerance for discomfort were immediately obvious.

Living in Culver City, I would frequently see Don out and about - always on his bike. I deeply respected his commitment to getting around that way.

He is somebody who I was always, always happy to see, and whom I deeply wish I could have gotten to know better. I regret his untimely loss extremely.
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
Don was a regular at the monthly Ballona walks. It was always a joy to see him there. Always smiling, joking from the instant he arrived, he loved telling us what he had seen "up the creek" from his bike on the eays to the walk. He was always welcome and welcoming, always had the funny sun hat on(!) and was just a an old-fashioned good guy. He will be sorely missed, and the walks, when we start them up again, won't be the same without him. Hope you see lots of really good birds up there, Don. Please keep smiling down on us. Love ya buddy!
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
I first met Don when he joined Walter Lamb and me in birding our regular section of the Lancaster Christmas Bird Count. All three of us lived in Culver City; of course my first image of Don was of this long-legged lanky man riding up to my house in the dark of the early morning on his bicycle . That is pretty much how I will always remember Don-- arriving for a bird walk, no matter the time, greeting me and the rest of the group with a big smile while debarking and locking up his bike. Don was an enthusiastic birder and great company in the field. I will miss him. My condolences to his famiy. 
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
It was not possible to be around Don and not be smiling all the time. Whether it was spending time with him at the front of the boat and refusing his offers of ginger candy that would "pull out the fillings from your teeth", his company at Bear Divide as the warblers buzzed by, exchanging notes about CBC route planning, migration status in the deserts and mountains, seeing him roll up on his bicycle to field trips, or just his good humor and infectious smile at all times -- I will certainly miss him.
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
I first met Don in April of 2013 on a birding trip to Tejon Ranch, when by chance, and the need to put the maximum number of people in the fewest number of vehicles put myself and Joe Meltzer in the same car with Don and Lee Pace. It only took a few minutes in Don's company to realize that this was a fun guy to be around. His sense of a adventure became obvious when Don headed solo up a canyon to find one more bird when everyone else was getting into their vehicles to leave. Within a few minutes everyone was out of their vehicles and heading up the canyon to see what he had found.

Since that day I have spent many enjoyable days birding with Don in the Los Angeles area from Ballona Creek to the San Gabriel Mountains, but my fondest memories are of 8 years that Don joined me in the Palos Verdes Christmas Count. The midday lunch get together and the compiling at the end of the day, his funny stories, his jabs about birds seen, or in my case not seen.

In the past two weeks every time I go out birding I can't help but think of Don and the time we spent together.

Don's passing has left a huge hole in the L.A. birding community and everyone that knew him. I will miss him very much.
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
Don, riding out to Pasadena for a walk seemed a bit, uh, enthusiastic. But it's this kind of enthusiasm that makes birding special! So long Don, and thanks for all the Birds...
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
Always a smile. And big Don seemed indestructible. This is so sad.
July 5, 2021
July 5, 2021
I was so saddened to hear the tragic news of Don's passing. I cannot understate how unique Don was in the bird watching community. Such an incredibly positive and welcoming person. As a fellow Culver City bird watcher, Don and I would frequently cross paths on the Ballona Creek bike trail and compare notes. He joined our annual bird watching by bicycle tours of the creek, which was incredibly helpful, because he was so patient with beginning bird watchers. After helping lead a tour one year, he went straight to Venice Beach, where he had volunteered to read a portion of Moby Dick as part of annual full length public reading. He was always full of energy and generous with his time. We last crossed paths in May at Kenneth Hahn Park observing migrating bird's at the Weeping Boer-bean trees. He urged me to visit Bear Divide, something I will make sure to do. Don will be sorely missed. Nature has lost a true friend.

Leave a Tribute

Light a Candle
Lay a Flower
Leave a Note