May 25, 1931 - December 1, 2022
Donald Lee Thomson was born on May 25, 1931. He died on December 1, 2022, at the age of 91. Born in Modesto, California, Don was blind from childhood. Because of this, Don's life was dedicated to overcoming adversity. Anyone who knew Don understood his passion and commitment to equal rights, opportunities, and the advocation of independence for the blind community. His understanding, knowledge, and experience in addressing advocacy for persons with disabilities were invaluable.
But those persons that Don surrounded himself with also knew the other side of him. While Don could certainly be loud, opinionated, and give off a gruff, curmudgeonly disposition, it only disguised the big heart underneath. Some will remember Don's love of music — jazz in particular — and his love of baseball and liberal politics. On a memorial page for Don, a friend, Stephen O'Harrow, said,"He was a true friend, a friend I miss talking to everyday. Don Thomson was one helluva guy, and I doubt we'll see anyone like him again for many a year."
In his professional life, Don obtained a Master of Arts degree in Sociology and a concurrent Master of Arts degree in American Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1971. From 1971 until 2007, Don was a Professor at Leeward Community College in the Social Sciences Division. After this appointment, Don went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he took the position of Professor Emeritus.
Other accomplishments include being president of Friends of Jazz Hawaii from 1990 until 1998 and serving on the State Rehabilitation Council. And, of course, many also know that Don dedicated a good portion of his time to the Hawaii Association of the Blind.