DONALD ARTHUR CLOTHIER - A LIFE REMEMBERED

DONALD ARTHUR CLOTHIER

A LIFE REMEMBERED

I know this is a food blog but I wanted to remember a dear friend who has left us in body but not in spirit.  Don Clothier was a friend and mentor who lived life to the fullest with a positive attitude and a smile.  Never complaining, never looking back except to recall memories of a life that defined him, challenged him and excited him.  Don could remember the smallest of details of events that happened to him fifty or sixty years ago.  He told stories of sailing, traveling and life with explicit details and with the enthusiasm of a 12 year old.  Don did not just live a life, Don experienced and enjoyed a life with friends, family, customers and his lovely wife Chris.  Up until his last breath he was contemplating his next adventure and sales call.  At age 85 he had a zest for life that inspired me.  I have so much respect for Don.  Not many in this world have touched me in the way that Don has.  Always smiling, laughing, discussing politics and his love for USC, Ronald Reagan and sailing.  Oh..what a life he lived sailing.  Don covered most of the world by boat and he amazed me with his detailed memories of dates, days at sea and what each adventure meant to him.  He would recall peoples names, what they ate and what they spoke about along with the weather and what they did each day.  His voice and eyes would raise slightly as he relived each moment at sea and on land.  At work Don was a legend in the HVAC industry.  He created and sold products and represented manufacturers for a lifetime.  Even at 85 years old he worked diligently to represent the manufacturers that he was under contract with.  Don made sales calls at age 85, called to tell you the monthly deals and motivated me to schedule meetings and events to promote his products.  Always with a smile and huge Aloha.  I knew Don was special years and years ago.  His knowledge, enthusiasm, charisma and persistence were something that I admired and respected.  I loved his zest for life and dreams of doing more each and every day.  I came to love the man, his life story and dreams.  Don has been a truly positive and inspirational person in my life.  He will be dearly missed by me and my entire family.  We love you Don!

I wanted to share these photos of a traditional Hawaiian burial at sea as it was a beautiful moment.

Words cannot describe the images or feelings of saying goodbye to Don at sea.  Probably the best celebration of life I have ever experienced.  

DONALD ARTHUR CLOTHIER

SEA DON BY HIS FRIENDS AND "SALTY DOG" TO ME

PLAYING WITH BOATS SINCE CHILDHOOD

WE ATTENDED DON'S 85TH BIRTHDAY PARTY IN JUNE

DON CLOTHIER - "MY BUDDY"

A LIFE AT SEA AND ON LAND - DON LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST

I THINK DON'S VOYAGE IS JUST BEGINNING

DON WITH HIS WIFE CHRIS.  YES HIS LIFE WAS A GIFT TO US ALL!

BOARDING THE YACHT "VANESSA" TO BID FAREWELL TO OUR FRIEND

BOATS MAKE THEIR WAY FROM THE WAIKIKI YACHT CLUB 

A PERFECT SEPTEMBER DAY TO CELEBRATED DON'S LIFE

HEADING OUT TOWARDS DIAMOND HEAD

WAIKIKI AS DON ENJOYED IT FROM HIS BOAT

DON'S FLEET OF FRIENDS GOING OUT TO SEA

ALL OF THE BOATS BEGIN TO MAKE A LARGE CIRCLE

A CIRCLE OF LOVE IS FORMED FOR DON CLOTHIER

WITH OUR CIRCLE OF BOATS COMPLETE THE BOAT CARRYING DON GOES TO THE MIDDLE

THE BOAT CARRYING DON'S REMAINS APPROACHES THE MIDDLE OF OUR CIRCLE

THE LEAD BOAT IN MIDDLE SCATTERS DON'S ASHES INTO THE OCEAN 

FLOWERS ARE TAKEN FROM LEIS AND THROWN IN THE OCEAN

EVERYONE ON THE BOAT TAKES FLOWERS AND PAYS THEIR RESPECT TO DON

BEAUTIFUL FRESH HAWAIIAN FLOWERS 

THOUSANDS OF FLOWERS ENTER OUR CIRCLE OF LOVE

FLOWERS WERE ALL AROUND THE BOATS

ALL OF THE BOATS CONTINUE TO CIRCLE THE LEAD BOAT

BEAUTIFUL MOMENT TO SEE ALL OF THE FLOWERS FLOATING FOR DON

OUR LAST FLOWER SENT OFF WITH LOVE

THE FLEET MAKES ONE MORE CIRCLE IN THE MEMORY OF DON

OUR CIRCLE MAKES IT WAY BACK TO THE WAIKIKI YACHT CLUB

HEADING BACK WITH TEARS OF LOVE

THE FLOWERS FOR DON SEEMED TO FOLLOW US BACK

IN HONOR OF DON OUR SKIPPER RAISES THE SAIL AND LETS THE WIND TAKE US IN

DON LOVED THE WIND AND SAILING.  IT WAS HIS PASSION.

DON'S FINAL RESTING PLACE IS WHERE HE WAS MOST HAPPY

BACK AT THE WAIKIKI YACHT CLUB WE CELEBRATED DON'S LIFE 

GREAT STORIES ABOUT DON, SLIDE SHOW AND A REALLY GOOD BUFFET

I WORE A USC SHIRT TO HONOR DON.  WE LOVE YOU BUDDY!