DONALD PATRICK (DON) DAVIDSON
Donald Patrick (Don) Davidson of Bellingham, Wash., died peacefully at home from prostate cancer on October 27, 2021. He was 71 years old.
Don was born at St. Bernardine’s Hospital in San Bernardino, Calif., in 1950, and grew up in San Bernardino, where he graduated from Pacific High School in 1968. He became enamored with journalism in eighth grade and became editor of his junior high school and high school newspapers. He earned a B.A. degree in Sociology and English from the University of Redlands in 1972 and a B.A. degree in Photographic Illustration from Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, CA in 1980.
Don first met Irma and Mitchell “Topper” (Deena’s parents) when Deena and Don started dating in 1974, where they met at the original gay 90’s in Redlands, CA and over the years they enjoyed many wonderful times with family at the house on Canyon Road in San Bernardino where Deena lived with her parents and sisters: older sister Susan and identical twin Darlene. Irma had many wonderful qualities, but the one Don remembered the most was her love for her family. When Don said FAMILY, it’s in capital letters because it is huge. Irma’s home was always filled with photos of her children, her siblings, her grandchildren and a collection of nieces and nephews that made Don’s head spin. He believed the people we are today is largely the result of all the people we have interacted with in our lives. Don was thankful that he knew Irma Siebert Lowe and that the wonderful daughter whose life she helped to shape is now his wife. We love you, Irma. You are forever a part of us.
He married his wife Deena Carol Lowe-Davidson in 1976 and together they raised two sons: Christopher Ross Davidson (born 1980) and Dean Patrick Davidson (born 1982). The majority of his professional career was spent in marketing and communications management for colleges and universities in Southern California. He retired in 2017.
A near-lifelong athlete, Don competed in his first track meet at age 10 and held the record for the 100-yard dash at his high school. Later in life, he took up competitive bicycle road racing and duathlon, and as a masters athlete won state championships in the road race, time trial and duathlon. He was named All-American in duathlon by USA Triathlon in 2013, and represented the USA at the World Duathlon Championships in Ottawa, Canada, that year finishing in fifth place.
In 2018, Don and Deena moved from their home of 35 years in Redlands, Calif., to Bellingham, Wash., where they enjoyed life together in retirement. Don enjoyed laying around petting his two cats, Gracie (deceased, she will be buried with Don) and Suzy. He also enjoyed hikes with his yellow Lab Molly on the nearby mountain trails, and spending time photographing the flora and fauna of the forest. He created a gallery of his photography in the basement of their home and also enjoyed growing food and flowers in the organic garden he created on their property.
Don is survived by his wife Deena, son Christopher “Chris” and his wife Brandi and their daughter Anastacia, son Dean and his wife Ahndiais and their son Rowan, cousin Phyllis Way and her husband Bill, cousins Joy and Mike Nelson and Rich Summers, and nieces Keri, Alicia and Kelly (Santini). Don was preceded in death by his sister Cheryl (1954-1997), father Donald (1924-2007), and mother Mary Ann (1928-2011).
Graveside services at Mt. View Mortuary and Cemetery, San Bernardino, CA by invitation only in July 2022.