Don, 86, died July 31, 2014, in Fresno, California. He served in the U.S. Army Airborne before getting his degree in Logging Engineering from Oregon State. Don jumped at Missoula the 1955-56 and 1958 seasons. After working as a Forester, he went to the Univ. of California Boalt Law School and started a career in law.

Don worked in private practice and for the Fresno DA's office before being appointed Federal Magistrate Judge for Yosemite N.P. in 1975. In his 18 years on the Federal Bench he was known for his skepticism for the well-fashioned fabrication.

Retirement could not persuade Don to leave Yosemite. He and his wife, Kay, built and ran the Yosemite Peregrine, a Bed and Breakfast, from 1994 to 2011.