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The EMU community was deeply saddened by the death of Don Anderson on December 25, 2007. Don was most known on campus for his passion to advance the full inclusion of all people with disabilities. He was particularly successful in helping provide access to higher education for individuals with disabilities.
Please use the form below to share your comments in memory of Don.
Monday January 21st
FROM: Daleta Blan
Don will be remembered by all who worked with him as kind and gentle soul.
Sunday January 20th
FROM: Tori Jackson
To say that Don will be missed is an understatement. When I first met Don I was skeptical about him or EMU to say the least being able to help me in my personal struggle. Don was able to prove me wrong ovr and ver again. His greatest effort in helping me to feel like I was still yet important despite my disabilities can never be copied. My fondest memory was Don helping me get over one of the biggest challenges in returning back to the classroom while I was enduring chemo and a stem cell transplant from afar in Chicago. Need I say more.....
Sunday January 20th
FROM: Julia Collins
simply an unforgettable human being...such a dear friend. I miss him terribly.
Saturday January 19th
FROM: Jessica Rose Grima
When I was starting college at Eastern, Don helped me out with all of my classes, and was a true joy to be around. He made sure that I was going to be alright during one of the biggest adjustments in my life. He will be greatly missed. God Bless him and his family always! Jessica
Saturday January 19th
FROM: Phyllis Carter
Don attended our annual Honors Program last year. He was a friend to us all. Don was always smiling and enjoyed life. Don, the empty spot you leave here at Eastern will be very noticeable. Make sure you ask the big guy up there to look favorably on us here at Eastern. Thanks for your kindness and smile.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Claudia Bean
Don will be missed. I was lucky enough to work with him in a Management EMU seminar a few years ago. That's where I got to know him. His humor stood out the most to me. I am sure he brought much happiness to the students he helped. They have lost a hero for sure. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Robert Frost
Friday January 18th
FROM: Leo Stringa
He was, and will always be a great person. Don influenced lives of many, and those moments will make him live on forever. god bless
Friday January 18th
FROM: Gary Hurlbert
Don was one of the most dedicated and caring people I've ever known. My sympathies to all that have had the opportunity and good fortune to have known him.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Holly Smith
Don and I were mostly email buddies. He was my go-to guy on a number of student cases. When you work in the President's Office, students with problems tend to find you. Don was always immediately responsive, thorough in his answers and ready to do whatever it took to resolve an issue. I had great respect for his professionalism and will miss his sage advice.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Erica Cooper
The first time I met Don was in a committee meeting in McKenny to transition to the new Student Center. Then once we moved into the SC, his office was just down the hall from mine. Except we were separated by a door he could get out of but not back into without help. He would come knock on my door when he need reentry, or if he needed money out of the ATM, sometimes help with getting Subway. Sometimes, he would come knock on my door to ask me to come with him to put his jacket on so he could go home for the day. But most of the time it was to talk about a student. I also helped out in Access Services last summer since they did not have a secretary. When I would walk into his office, and he would always say to me what do I need to sign this time? With a big grin on his face. It always made me laugh, and then we would take a few minutes to see what the other one was up to or had planned for the weekend. I miss seeing you, opening the door for you, or helping put on your jacket to go home for the day. Most of all, I miss your smiling face in the halls of the Student Center each and every day.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Kevin Merrill
I will always remember Don's positive outlook and can-do attitude. I also will always remember a wonderful speech he gave about biodiversity and how ecosystems thrive and sustain the most life when they are complex and varied. His larger point was that people who are differently abled are part of our human ecosystem diversity and that their presence helps ensure the survival and richness of us all. It was one of the greatest speeches I've ever heard at EMU.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Huayun Xu
I met Don one time. I am a graduate assistant at Teacher Education Department. Last year, one day I was trying to find a testing place for a female student with special needs. Don came up to me and helped me settle down everything. I was very impressed by his easy going, student friendly style although he was with his wheelchair. I could feel his passion. I am so sorry we lost such a good friend at EMU, I will remember him.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Carol Haddad
Don's passing is a terrible loss for those of us who worked with him at EMU. His intelligence, integrity, and passion for promoting campus access and diversity were much appreciated. Don's work will not be forgotten, and we will continue to advocate the causes that he so effectively championed.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Bayyinah K Muhammad
Don was an example of strength and acceptance whom I admired and will miss tremendously.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Lorraine Hallinen
Don demonstrated determination and purpose that few can match. He was a great resource for our students with disabilities.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Mike Farmer
visited him once with an issue. Attentive, kind, helpful. Always bookin around campus on that wheelchair. Full throttle. Moved with purpose, transcending limitation.
Friday January 18th
FROM: Jenny Clark
Don brought unending support, advocacy, and numerous achievements in accessibility to EMU's campus. I will always remember his fascination with adaptive technology and his sense of humor.
Thursday January 17th
FROM: Courtney McAnuff
I was sad to hear about the loss of Don Anderson. I worked with him for several years and found him to be a most outstanding colleague. His passion for EMU and the students he served was a great strength. I know that students have lost a great advocate. He will be missed.
Thursday January 17th
FROM: Alicia Doty Densemo
I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Don for 3 years at EMU. He was a dear friend and great boss. He was full of an energy that most people will never possess. His passion for his students of Access Services, as well as students around the campus, was contagious. He will be remembered in my heart as a rebel with a cause.
Thursday January 17th
FROM: Victor Walker
It is funny how I never thought to tell Don how cool of a person he was. He was here when I came to EMU and I thought he would always be here. There are certain types of people in the world that we need. Their energy essential to the positive way that things should go. Don was and continues to be that energy. I will miss him dearly.