Thursday, July 20, 2017
I knew Donna since she started at Bendix when she was 18-years old. She was one of the most amazing people I knew.
Right from the beginning, we could see that she had many talents. She started as a secretary in the typing pool; she was quick and accurate. It wasn’t long before her talents were recognized and she soon became a private secretary, received many promotions and eventually became Executive Assistant to the Director of Engineering. While she was in that role, I worked very closely with Donna. She was always full of useful tips. I remember that she organized my file system and taught me an effective follow-up methodology that we worked together for years. She also kept the director’s staff well organized.
Donna actually led the administrative support staff at TSD in keeping our documents and specifications current and was particularly effective when we were preparing proposals. She would make the assignments and make sure all the sections came together properly.
At every Christmas, Donna would go out and buy all the goodies and set up the director’s conference room for us to celebrate the holiday season in high style.
Aside from all her business talents, Donna was my friend. We would always laugh and have fun. I called her Gomby; she called me Haddy. One year I gave her green Gumby and orange Pokey toys. We would have coffee in the mornings and joke-around with each other all the time. There are so many private jokes between the two of us that I just have to smile each time I think of them. Donna, I hope you remember these, “it isn’t as good as it looks”, or the dual vanity mirror “one for each face” or the reaction of a visitor when you called down the hall asking “SETS anyone?”... (SETS were Support Equipment Test Specifications that Donna was looking for a volunteer to update) or the time I walked into a wall because I was distracted by a passer-by. For years, in preparation for Christmas, she would take me out to the local department stores and help me select special gifts for my wife.
It is with deep sorrow that I hadn’t stayed in-touch with Donna in recent years. I will always regret that. Donna was so special to so many of us. She was admired and loved by all, myself included.
May God bless you Donna; may you experience the joy in heaven that you gave us all on earth.
