The passing of Don S

[500dollar744ti]

Re: The passing of Don S

I was shocked to read of Don's passing, I learned so much from him by searching this site. I also found his witty responses very entertaining and loved reading them. Very sorry to hear of his passing.

Don has fixed my boat so many times without ever laying a hand on it.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: The passing of Don S

Dang. Just got back from two weeks off the grid up in Canada, and this news is the first thing I saw. As he did for many others, Don generously gave of his time and expertise to help me get my boat running. Even though he must have a helped a thousand other guys with almost exactly the same problem, I felt like he wanted to help ME fix my boat, and to learn the right way to do it. What a great guy to help so many of us. I hope he knew how much he was appreciated and respected. RIP, Don S.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: The passing of Don S

Thanks in large part to him, I'm spending more time on the lake and less time on this laptop...reading about how to spend more time on the lake.

I just read of his passing and want to express my condolences to his family, and those friends he leaves in his wake.

Over years of subscribing to online forums, you find those "characters" who while being at times rough and somewhat abrasive...actually end up helping the most as they provide that much(at times) "kick in the pants" some of us need to quit reading and start doing. Don...for me...was that person. No long winded disertations, just plain talk and unlimited detailed knowledge.

Don will be missed here for sure.

ray: A Sailor's Prayer

Sailors pray,
For fair winds and a following sea

The smell of salt in the air,
The feel of their skin as it's touched by the spray

An albatross soaring above,
Dolphins in the ship's wake at play

To witness a work of art that only God can create,
The sunset at the end of day

At night a million stars in the sky,
Safe anchorage in an islands lee

When the time comes to die as for all it must,
To awake in Sailors Heaven where nothing ever rusts

And always there would be,
Fair winds and a following sea

C. D. Williams.

 

[Triton II]

Re: The passing of Don S

I've been away on business and just got back to find out this very sad news. RIP Don, you were a good man.

TII

 

[ormjgrouch]

Re: The passing of Don S

Just got back from Vacationm Lake Anna (viriginia), man, he has definetly increased my knowledge of boating, Never met him but recieved and read alot of posting from Don S. very good man!

 

[WSKIPPER]

Re: The passing of Don S

I just got home today to see this tragic news on the forum..so sorry for the loss...please pray for the family and loved ones...William

 

[korygrandy]

Re: The passing of Don S

Just signed on and this is truly sad news. I swear Don S replied to almost every one of my technical threads. His knowledge is irreplaceable. May your family find peace and serenity and may you forever live on as legendary!

 

[rhillman75]

Re: The passing of Don S

I have not been on the forums for a while and I can give directl thanks to Don S and the fellow memebrs that have been instrumental in providing the wealth of knowledge that they all had to further my learning in the boating community. I can't tell you the amount of times that Don S would respond to ANY of my questions that I had with such a vast variety of solutions. As of last evening, I heard of this news with his passing directly through the forums. Without knowing him personally, I still found myself laying in bed for the night and telling my wife that one of the men that were responsible for teaching me the in and outs of boating had passed. All I can say is, if a man can leave that "lasting" impression on you, then he must have been even more "influential" for those that had the pleasure to be encompassed by him on a daily basis. Don S, thank you for making me more humble in what you have taught me and what you provided all of us in the boating community. In my eyes, your boat will never leave the water!

 

[natemoore]

Re: The passing of Don S

This is a shock. He helped me a lot over the years. I was re-reading some of my earlier posts to bone up on some procedures and got to experience again Don S's "unique" way of offering advice. I'm glad to read that he was, in fact, a jovial person, because I had built this mental image of him being like Dana Carvey's Grumpy Old Man character on SNL. :joyous: R.I.P. Don S.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: The passing of Don S

Sometimes you need a matter of fact slap in the face and that’s what I expected from Don. Then it was my job to prove I could do what I asked about or prove Don right. Most times I proved Don right. This went on from the time Don was just a newby from Alaska.
Here on my birthday today is the first I am hearing about Don’s passing. The day will be a little less bright now that he is gone. I guess in life your job is to live it and pass on your knowledge to the next generation. I have already passed on a lot of Don’s smarts to many and have so much leftover in my own head that I will never remember it all.
Great job to the end my friend, you will be missed and never be forgotten by me. God’s speed.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: The passing of Don S

Don was much like the older Brother that I wanted to be like. And for many years I have tried to copy his clear instructions to posters needing detailed education and repair diagnosis instructions.

My computer has been down, a fried power supply, I finally rec'd the new power pak and get it up running fine again only to find this thread.

Shocked, deeply hurt, as I considered Don a true Brother.

Peace be with you Don.

 

[PS94]

Re: The passing of Don S

I used to post a problem; and if I saw Don had replied, I was like, "Oh thank God my boat is fixed!"
Was like a kick in the chest to read this post. Bye Don. Thanks for the Boats, without you, I might not have one...

 

[rivermouse]

Re: The passing of Don S

He will be missed for sure. At least with the archives available here we can still go back in time and read again the very knowledgeable post he was responsible for. Others can learn from his knowledge for many more years.....Not many of us can accomplish this.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: The passing of Don S

Just signed on only to find this thread. What a shame. RIP Mr. Don S.

 

[Mannie]

Re: The passing of Don S

So sad to hear this, over the years Don has been my go-to guy when I've had boat problems (there have been A LOT). He recently helped me troubleshoot a bad ignition problem, as ever his advice was spot on. A genuine gentleman, so sadly missed. But on the bright side, his numerous posts, energy and knowledge live on, on this forum. Thanks Don :joyous:

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: The passing of Don S

This has been an incredible loss for us as an Iboats community. I was also devastated when I read the sticky in the Mercruiser forum and am still having a difficult time believing it.
I did not know Don personally, but he was absolutely a mentor, and I appreciated his experience and opinion.

Not having Don here is not going to be an easy adjustment. To just grasp that someone with all the years of knowledge would even bother to put in the thousands of hours he did to help other boaters out just shows the kind of guy he was.

Thank you for sharing his Obituary, WE were definitely part of his family and Iboats became a huge part of his life... as it's also becoming for many of us on here.

Thank you DonS for being here!

 

[zell66]

Re: The passing of Don S

Smooth sailing my friend.

He helped me every time I had what I thought was a life ending problem with my boat. He told me to breath and then he HELPED me get job done. His loss will be felt here for a long time.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: The passing of Don S

Don,
Thanks for all that you've left behind on this forum (& apparently others), it will be an outstanding legacy to honor your memory.

Thank you!

Although you'll be greatly missed, you shall also be ever present: here amongst your iboats family, past, current & future. May we all find substance in what you've helped to create.

May your days always be spent on fair seas, w/ a dry bilge, on a sun drenched deck, a light air filling your sails & your nites calm beneath a guiding blanket of stars.

I bid you safe passage on your voyage.

Anchor's aweigh...

 

[MasterGoa]

Re: The passing of Don S

This is very sad news indeed.

His technical expertise and generous dispense of quality
advice surely added tremendous value to this forum and
all those, myself included, he helped out of a bind...

Godspeed Don, I hope your ship in heaven actually lets you
relax and enjoy the ride

 

[Fishermark]

Re: The passing of Don S

I have been away from the forum for a few months.... someone mentioned "the late Don S" in one of the posts. I then looked and found this.



Yet another reminder that life is short and uncertain at best. Use the time to spend time with family and friends while you can!

Rest in peace Don - your advice and guidance has been invaluable all these years.