Obituary Memorial Information Inurnment Information Comments Slide Show
Don Hinde died unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, October 11th, 2005.
He was born January 4, 1933 in Sandusky OH, the only child of Thomas J and Violet (Wikel) Hinde of Huron, OH. He graduated from Huron H.S. in 1950 and worked a year before entering Bowling Green State University in 1951.
He married Noel Greenhill on August 28th, 1955, two days after he graduated. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in August. They have four children, Lee (Jeanine), Jay (Lori), Lynne (Andy) Sohn and Laurie (Mike) Lecours, and seven grandchildren: Lilah and Molly Hinde, Garrett and Megan Hinde, Jeffrey and Marissa Sohn and Emily Lecours. His uncle, Raymond Hinde, of Sandusky Ohio and three cousins, Judy Halter, Jan Fortune and Georgia Hinde also survive.
From 1951 to 1972, he was employed by Bowling Green State University and in 1958 joined the staff of the new BGSU University Union as Building Engineer. When he left in 1973, he was Assistant Director. He came to California State University, Sacramento as the first Director of its soon to be built Union. He oversaw two expansions of the Union, and served on several University committees.
He was a member of the Association of College Unions, International (ACUI )and very active in Region 15 of that group, serving as session participant and leader.
He retired as Director of the CSUS University Union on January 1st, 2000. Upon his retirement, the University named the Auditorium after him and ACUI Region 15 created an honorary service award named for Don and Noel.
Don was an active member of the National Carousel Association and enjoyed learning and experiencing antique and historic carousels all over the United States. He enjoyed anything mechanical or electronic and was a constant “tinkerer.” He loved his toys. If you wanted to know the time, he was the man to ask.
He loved the Pacific Grove coast line, the 17 mile drive and lunch at the Lodge and staying at Hillside in Carmel. He traveled extensively with his wife with Ireland being a favorite destination.
The memorial service will be held in the Hinde Auditorium in the University Union at Sac State at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15. Inurnment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
School of Veterinary Medicine,
Canine Cancer Research
Memory of Donald Hinde
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616-9734
Checks payable to the UC Regents.
Or
The Salvation Army
Or
Merry-Go-Round Museum
301 Jackson Street
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Obituary Memorial Information Inurnment Information Comments Slide Show
The memorial service was held in the Hinde Auditorium in the University Union at Sac State at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15. The family wishes to offer it's heartfelt thanks to the Union staff for their assistance.
Obituary Memorial Information Inurnment Information Comments Slide Show
The inurnment service will be held at McMillan Cemetery in Huron, OH 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 12. A reception will follow at the Merry-Go-Round Museum, 301 Jackson Street, Sandusky, Ohio.
Obituary Memorial Information Inurnment Information Comments Slide Show
I always have had a picture of Don in my head that includes him throwing back his head with a big laugh, tickled about something. I will always remember him tickled about something. I also remember him pissed about stuff in a quiet-building-up-to-a-crescendo fuss. Mostly, I remember his sense of humor and his directness. He was a good man and I am sorry his family and friends will be deprived of his presence.
"Don Hinde was a wonderful person and an amazing friend. I owe him a debt of gratitude. In fact, in large part, I owe where I am today to Don. Were it not for Don's kind support and loving friendship to me during the darkest moments of my professional career, I do not think I would still be in Student Affairs. Don's encouragement kept me going.Thank you, Don.
Thanks Noel to you and Don for visiting me and my family in New York. That meant a lot to me, and was typical of both of you. I will forever picture you and Don sitting in my home. Thank you for that memory. I loved Don Hinde. I will miss him."
I am still in disbelief about Don's passing. The College Union field has lost a giant who set the standard for how a successful program meets the needs of the students and the rest of the campus community. His legacy lives on in the facilities and programs he helped to create and in the people whose lives he touched. I will miss his presence at all ACUI annual conferences along with his wonderful supportive wife Noel. I always knew that the conference was underway when they both would appear together in the hotel lobby. He cared deeply for the ACUI family on both the regional and international level and was always there to comment on the issues at hand. He will always be important to me because he was always available when I needed advice about a project.
Whenever I see a carrousel, I will think of him. He will always occupy a special place in my professional life and in my heart. Please give my deepest sympathies to everyone at the University Union who knew and worked with this incredible human being known as "Don".
You are all in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
I'll never forget that photo he showed me of him and Noel 50 years ago and then now. He also gave me a photo I took in Chicago in June of PTC 72 without that annoying fence which he altered on photoshop. I've known him for about 10 years now but it's only been the past couple that I've gotten to know him a lot better. Yes, he will be missed. The only consolation to a sudden death like that is that there's very little suffering.
Went to Hempstead Lake on Monday, it was supposed to be open but it was closed. I did call and complain. They added an addition to the carousel building for parties and other events. I have to admit it's very nice.
I am also in shock. They were great friends and great supporters of PTC#6. They came out for our Centennial Celebration and I had Don putting up chairs, pounding tent stakes, etc. He and Noel could not believe that we served a free barbeque to 800 people. When I told them that free barbeques are part of rural Colorado, they laughed and said they might have to move out here. I am so so sorry and so very, very, sad.
My gosh, what a shock! I'm sitting here thinking of all the fun we had at this year's convention, setting him up as "color man" for the auction. This was the result of dinner conversation earlier this spring when he talked of doing broadcasts of college football games. Noel and I had such fun time getting him the appropriate "hat" for the job.
They always supported our carousels....and they were always there. From Republic to Shelby, to giving Don and I a back street tour of Noel's grandmother's neighborhood in D.C.
I was hauling load after load of corn to town yesterday. I was hoping I would be inspired to come up with poem or verse about Unka Don. Tractor time gives a person time to think. I thought of many fragments of memories, but nothing cohesive enough to come together.
Don could pop a hearty laugh out loud of enjoyment when I told him a story or event that happen in my life. I was so thrilled when the two of you came to the farm in 2003. I was glad I just gave you a snapshot of our life rather than show you the area attractions. Both of you eased right in at the county fair's exhibits judging day, I would look over to check you out and both of you were busy chatting with this person and that person. It was comforting to have you there when the kid hit the pickup I was driving with his bike.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during the service tomorrow and the day after and the day after.
. I forgot to add in my thoughts about your dad that I think the real reason I got your folks to Iowa is I found carousels they could visit, hee hee. They liked the one I found in Story City, Ia. Because of them, I look out for carousels.
Your dad obviously had a great effect on a large number of people, and it's wonderful that your parents were married 50 years (and hard to believe we're that old). The clearest memory I have of your dad is of there always being a case of Coke in the house, and even now I think of him almost every time I see all the pop (or "soda," as they call it here in Virginia) in our fridge.
Hard to believe it's been over 30 years since you guys moved.
You're all in our thoughts and prayers. Give your mom our love.
Obituary Memorial Information Inurnment Information Comments Slide Show
Here's a web site with all the pictures from the slide show. No fancy stuff, just the meat.
This slide show was run before the memorial started. There's a small one and a larger one. The smaller one has smaller images, but will download quicker. The big one is huge. They both have the same pictures. You may need QuickTime to view it - you can download that here.
This is the small one (33 mb). This is the large one. (192.1 mb)