My sincere condolence on the passing of don I have been searching for him the last couple of years to try to reach out and it’s sad to hear about his loss. Don used to work for my father‘s group in Saudi Arabia and oversaw the largest greenhouse operation projects in the Middle East and was part of the team that created the first commercial Golf course in Saudi Arabia.
He was a great & professional man and was dedicated to his work. I pray that he may rest in peace.
My sincere condolence to all his family and friends specially Marie and Dylan.
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My name is Jeff penrod I worked with don in the 1980s and we enjoyed each other's company as he helped me build a business plan which became successful and help prosper my business i would so like to tell his family what a privilege itl was to work with their father and how much of a blessing he was to me.
1
I am remiss in this posting being nearly one year.
Don arrived at the guest house in Kabul in 2009. He asked if anyone had a drink. As a matter of fact, I had just won a bottle of red label in a lottery at an expat party for New Year’s. We enjoyed a drink together. A toast now to Don. Rest in peace..
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2009, Kabul, Afghanistan
VIP BBQ at the Chief of Party Villa
— with
Donald Dwyer
and howard shauer
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Don came in to my store Computer Innovations looking to make some copies and do some desktop publishing. He was working on a possible company called Great Northern Botanicals. We became friends and fellow entrepreneurs on the road of life. My youngest son Devin was a classmate of Dylan’s in elementary and high school. I always enjoyed the lively conversations about how to make the world a better place. I will cherish the memories of him standing in the doorway of the store and saying “Hello This Place!”
The Jackson family sends our condolences to all of the friends and family of Don, be assured he lives in our memories and will always be remembered with fondness and respect.
Sincerely
Jim and Marlene Jackson , Demian & Devin
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Dear Mary and the Dwyer Clan,
My sincere condolences on Don's passing. He was a grower (can't imagine any better); a teacher to so many; a lover of friends and family; a tireless worker; a man whose smile could light up a room; and someone whom I will be forever grateful for having met. Don left his mark carved in stone in our greenhouse. There are few weeks in these past 5 years that I haven't thought of Don, or uttered words of gratitude for the things he taught me about controlled environment agriculture.
Mary, you have been in my thoughts and will continue to be.
Fondly,
Sally
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When I first arrived in Kabul, as a young woman traveling and working alone in the region, I remember Don (who came to be known to me as Uncle Don because he was so endearing and kind) sitting by a fire outside of the Charlie House compound where we lived. He welcomed me to join the small group and immediately started training me on the technical agricultural scope of work of the project. That’s how he was, always teaching us, always training us, always challenging us to do the right thing in a place where few people followed suit. The local youngsters on the project called him Cocow, which is Dari for Uncle, out of respect and love. He was the “grey beard” many of us looked to for guidance and counsel as we operated agricultural reform programming in one of the most challenging and dangerous environments in the world.
His intentions were always pure, always focused on impact, always challenging us to consider if we were doing all we could to help the Afghan farmers to really improve their lives and agricultural industry of Afghanistan as a whole. Despite the losses we took with the wins, despite the austere security environment in which we operated, talking to Don always just made me feel comforted and grounded as he was able to simplify some of the most complex situations. I counted on him for a laugh and a good story at Andres’ famous BBQs too!
I miss you already, old friend. Your legacy lives in me, in the Afghans you trained, and in the countless others into whom you poured your immense wisdom and love. It feels like yesterday we were sitting in the Charlie house gardens around the fire pit. Murphy would have a guitar in hand and I’d sing along when the lyrics came to me. I know you’re out there guiding us still and I’m counting on it.
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Uncle Don was a very fun and humorous guy. He knew how to have a great time. It is admirable how much he was fascinated with nature and this beautiful world.
Aunt Mary: sending you a big hug and a warm smile. May you cherish the wonderful trips, jokes, stories and memories you shared with Uncle Don.
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Our heartfelt sympathies to you, Mary, and your family. As one of your 'old' long-term friends, I was so thrilled when you and Don came to visit us in Bend when Dylan was just a toddler. I was thrilled that you had found such a perfectly wonderful match. My children & I were impressed that Don could make so many funny voices! I wish we hadn't lived so far apart and could have spent more time together. May your hearts hold his memories dear. <3
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