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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly July 2001
DONALD ALFRED LUNDHOLM * '46
No. 15630 * 7 Jun 1925 - 9 Jan 2001
Died at Bradenton, FL * FL National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL |
DONALD ALFRED LUNDHOLM was born in Portland, ME
but grew up in Durham, NH where his father was a professor and
Director of Athletics at the University of New Hampshire. His
brother, Jere wrote: "He loved sports. He was a batboy for
the UNH baseball team. In 1939, our father took him into the
NY Yankees locker room after a game in NYC to meet the players
and forever after he was an avid Yankees fan. He was a star pitcher
on the Dover, NH high school baseball team and end on the football
team. He had many hobbies including music, Ham Radio, skiing
and sailing."
After graduating from Dover NH High School, Don received his
appointment to West Point and joined the Class of 1946 on the
banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
Roommate Bill Jenkins wrote of Don's days as a cadet: "Don
and I began rooming together in our Plebe year. Don was a true
Yankee from NH and loved all the winter sports. He was a skier
for three years and even forced this southern boy onto ice skates
and to WP hockey games. During Yearling year we were joined by
Lew Allen and we all wanted to become pilots. There was a lottery
to determine which primary flying school would be our assignment.
Don and I agreed we would stick together and ended up at Brady,
TX." Don graduated a second lieutenant with his pilot's
wings in the Army Air Corps.
After graduation, Don joined his multi - engine classmates for
transition training at Enid AFB, OK. His first assignemnt was
with the 97th Bomb Group in Salinas, KS flying B-29s. From KS,
Don was assigned to the Armed Forces Special Weapons Field Command
in Albuquerque, NM. From NM, Don went to the Squadron Officer's
School in Panama City FL. In 1950, he married Bette Gooding in
Tampa, FL. In 1953, Don went to Randolph AFB, TX to HQ. AF Combat
Training Command. He then joined Air Task Force 13 and in 1960
went to the U of NH to serve on the ROTC staff there. His next
assignment was Commander, 61st Troop Carrier Sqdn at Stewart
AFB, TN from 1963 - 1967. Don retired from the Air Force in 1967.
Following his retirement, Don joined the Public Service Company
of New Hampshire and served with that organization for 22 years,
reaching the position of Chief Executive Officer before he again
retired.
After retiring for the second time, Don moved to Bradenton, FL.
There he enjoyed his hobbies, especially jazz music, sailing,
golf and tennis. In 1994, shortly after moving to FL, Don's wife,
Bette died. One of the couples, Don and Bette socialized with
in their retirement community was the Kaczorowskis. Mary Ann
Kaczorowski lost her husband six weeks before Bette's death.
She and Don became close friends and were married in 1996. In
1999, Don was diagnosed with colon cancer. He died 9 January
2001.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann; son, Robert; stepdaughters,
Donna and Dianne; stepsons, Ray and Ken and brother, Jere.
The characteristics and qualities that made Don Lundholm someone
very special to those who knew and loved him are best elaborated
by their remembrances of him.
Friend, Bill Muntz, remembered: "Don had a great love of
music and shared his collection of favorites with us. We played
golf together; he made it possible for me to play. Due to my
failing vision, he drove me to the course and watched the ball
for me. He loved boating on Sarasota Bay and was also a good
tennis player. Don will be missed by all who knew him and his
life touched most of us here where we live."
Brother, Jere, recalled: "My brother was a great guy. We
had great times together skiing and sailing. He loved sailing,
especially the inland bays of Portsmouth, NH. He was a quiet
likeable guy and a rock you could always count on. He was especially
at peace with the wind in his sails and his hand on the helm."
Son, Bob, recalled his father: "My dad was a success in
many areas. I am proud of his service to his country and will
always be proud of his being a graduate of West Point. He was
an excellent father and a wonderful role model. He and I would
spend afternoons sailing on his boat. I developed a love for
the water that exists to this day, one of my most precious gifts
from my dad. In his final days, he faced death with grace and
dignity. I only hope I can do as well when the time comes."
His wife, Mary Ann, wrote: "Don was a very intelligent and
civilized man, who loved his country and his family and will
be missed by all who knew him."
The Class of 1946 is honored to add these simple words that would
mean so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Don; Be Thou
At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
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