DONALD ROSS MITCHELL

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DONALD ROSS MITCHELL Don was predeceased by his mother Kay in 1962 and father Wally in 1988. He moved from Calgary to Winnipeg in 1953, marrying his high school sweetheart, Carol in 1958 and started working for the City of St. James. With amalgamation, he progressed through the Water and Waste Department finishing in the Finance Department after completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba in 1983. He was the man with a plan. His superior money management skills afforded the ability to retire at age 51 ending a 30-year career with City of Winnipeg in 1989. Don was well travelled and enjoyed his trips to London and Portugal. The family spent their summer and winter holidays for 13 years in a problematic 1966 Ford Mercury truck camper travelling in excess of 300,000 miles traversing the USA and Canada. They made numerous trips with a close-knit circle of friends to Palm Springs and Florida over the years. Upon retirement, Don and Carol headed off to Victoria. Don was always the consummate tour guide to friends who visited in Victoria, BC or Mesa, AZ. It was not surprising for him to have chauffeured them several hundreds of miles. Stops along the Casino circuits and annual poker pilgrimage with former neighbours in Winnipeg were always on the docket. The last 18 winters were spent in their home in Mesa, Arizona. He earned the moniker Grandmaster from his love of playing Bridge. He also enjoyed Cribbage (had a perfect 29 hand) Poker and a variety of card games. Socializing became a steady diet in Mesa, including the infamous Happy Hour hosted outside their home, which became a daily ritual. Like his father, Don took an avid interest in music, playing the drums and trombone. Born in Calgary in 1937, Don had always been a sports enthusiast. He spoke of his hockey accolades and other activities in Calgary before contracting polio in 1953. Don always remained athletic; he was a triple-medallist in swimming, archery and table tennis while competing in the 1967 Pan Am Paraplegic Games (Winnipeg). He also participated in swimming and wheelchair basketball in the Paraplegic Games in Montreal. Don played and won an exhibition game with his wheelchair basketball team in the Winnipeg arena vs. the Harlem Globetrotters. Don volunteered on numerous committees during his tenure with the City including helping to establish the Employee Benefit Plan. A champion for the underdogs, he was involved in the pioneering of wheelchair accessible stores, sidewalks and restaurants in the City of Winnipeg. Don was with the MB Wheelchair Sports Association for four years, serving as President from 1968 to 1969. He always gave back and rarely asked for anything. He was Chair of the Steering Committee for the formation of Branch #4 Victoria, of the Post Polio Society, and served a term as President. He was happy to provide his services as Treasurer of the tenants association in Mesa Village. He gave generously of his time and was devoted to causes that were important to him. Don was legendary in his storytelling prowess, enthralling his audience and keeping them at the edge of their seat, eager for more. He had the most wonderful sense of humour and could not get enough email jokes circulated. Don would say he had more luck with money management than he had with fishing. If you were fortunate to bond with Don, it was a lifelong relationship. He was the most brilliant, dedicated, pragmatic, honourable and courageous person. He was proud, virtuous and independent. Don's lifelong passion has remained steadfast and unyielding: his family. He cherished every minute spent visiting with his precious grandchildren during annual visits back to Winnipeg spending time around the Viscount's pool. The legacies of Don's life will live on through his wife Carol in their 49th year of marriage; son, Ross (wife Mary, granddaughters, Heather and Colleen); daughter Karen Tyler (husband Grant, grandson Mitchell, granddaughters, Drew and Megan); son Craig (wife Diane, grandsons, Alexander and Christopher) and son Todd who was with Dad and Mom when he died peacefully at home in Victoria, January 19, 2007 at the age of 69. His life and memory will be celebrated by his many relatives and innumerable lifelong friends. He will be remembered forever. The world is a lesser place without him in it. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 27, 2007