My Uncle Don was the best; he was the most generous person I’ve ever met, and he was a giant, lovable teddy bear who offered the best hugs. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have so many beautiful memories with him because he was always the uncle who made me laugh.
I have had the experience of meeting complete strangers who, upon discovering that our last name was the same, proceeded to express their affection for him and tell me how much they loved him.
It is my belief that there was not a single person who did not like him. One tale in particular that has always stuck with me is about a time when I was getting my hair done at the salon in JC Penny or another such establishment.
That my uncle had served as the resource officer while she was in middle school was something that the hairdresser shared with me. According to her, it was one of the most difficult moments in her life, and she felt as though my uncle was the only friend she had at that present moment.
She shared with me that with his generosity, she was able to get through it. Simply put, that was his nature. There is no denying the impact that he had on individuals and the community. It is this picture of him with Layla when she was a baby that I consider to be one of my most favourite pictures of him. He had a deep affection for his family.
The second picture is taken from an article that Foster’s published about him many years ago, which I have always admired. It is all stated in the headline. Our Uncle Don, One day, I will be able to see you again, and when I do, I am looking forward to giving you one of those bear embraces. “I adore you.”
