On Monday, January 6th (Year was not provided) the Springer community lost a wonderful man.
His name was Donald O’Connell and ESRA would like to celebrate his life with a memorial to him.
(This Page from: http://www.springerrescue.org/donald.html)
Don O’Connell was a real self-made man who was larger than life - and not just in his height of 6'6"! From his beginnings at St. Vincent's Orphanage and Boys' Town, he went on too many accomplishments. His motto was what he lived by: "Winners never quit and quitters never win". He joined the Seabees at 17 and served during the Korean conflict. He then earned degrees in Forestry and Supervision and a Community College Teaching Credential for Forestry and Fire Science. He worked for the CA Dept. of Forestry for 32 years - the last 16 before he retired as Air Attack Officer/Battalion Chief for the Chico Air Base. He then went on to pilot state and federal air tankers for 3 years. From 1991 to 2002, he flew his Cessna 182 on air recon during fire season for Sierra Pacific Industries. He was an Air Transport Pilot, Multi engine / Instrument and Advanced Ground Instructor, and a FAA Safety Advisor. Don had been a snow ski instructor, scuba diver, played college and semi-pro football, ran with the bulls in Pamplona in 1985, climbed to the top of Wayna Picchu at Macchu Picchu in 1993, was a long-time 49er ticket holder, a history buff who loved trivia, classical music, the outdoors and traveling here and abroad.
Don and his wife Charleen had field-bred Springers for over 30 years, as pets and hunting companions. Since retiring they traveled all over the country for field trials and both are AKC Hunting Test judges. They got involved in Hunt Tests 10 years ago, and 5 years ago with Field Trials. With that, Don found his niche!! He loved training and competing for these events. He was especially proud of his girl Bridget. She was High Point FT puppy for the western interclub 2 years in a row, but the crowning touch was their placing fourth at the Nat. Amateur FT Championship at Porterville in December 2002. Don and Charleen’s other “kids” are Cody, who needs 1 point for his FC, and Annie, Bridget’s pup of this summer. Charleen made a promise to Don that she’d carry on their passion and this incredible lady is doing just that. She is taking Bridget’s daughter Annie back to Nebraska with in April to their good friend Jim DeVoll, for some "steady" schooling" as he's done for their others.
To paraphrase what Paul Anka wrote:" He lived a life that's full, he traveled each and every highway, and more, much more that this, he did it his way."
