I went to Shawnee High School with Don and we played on the baseball team together as well as sharing several classes. Our closest connection, however, was that almost everyday of our senior year, we skipped our last study hall period to go to Larry Dawe’s or Don Brooks’ house to play cards for an hour before returning to school for our last period class. Don was always the “banker” of the game. Don was leader even back then as he was our Senior Class president. I only saw him in later years at our reunions but regarded him as a great guy and a good friend.  His passing came as a terrible shock and I will treasure his memory always.


Laima and family, I was shocked to hear just this morning of Don's passing.  I am deeply saddened to learn of his death.  Don was a tremendous mentor and colleague - one who I always admired and looked up to both personally and professionally.   We shared so many common histories between our university connections (Kansas and Dayton) and career paths with both running through the City of Miamisburg.    Don was always a source of great wisdom and I (along with many local government managers in Ohio) benefitted from his sage advice and friendly guidance.

I am truly sorry for your loss and will keep Don and you all in my prayers in the days ahead.

Dave Collinsworth

My husband Kyle Moorman and I were both student's of Don.  We both took different courses with him at UD while completing our MPAs.  He was a wonderful professor, very devoted to his students and his community.  If it was not for his classes I would have not pursued a degree in Urban Planning afterwards.  I always had very fond memories of Don and the things he taught us on public administration and community involvement.  He will be truly missed.

Don was a friend and colleague for more than 40 years. Our friendship was rich and deep and included our professional and personal lives. He was a good and loving husband and father and a gentle man of great integrity and skill. He believed strongly in the individual worth and dignity of all citizens and conducted his career accordingly. Brenda and I are so very sad to lose this fine man. We offer our continued friendship and support to Laima and Chris and Stephanie and to his Mom, Mary. We miss you terribly my good friend

Don Vermillion was a dedicated public servant/leader, a great educator and a good man. In his quiet but effective way, he worked behind the scenes in the various roles he played to make numerous positive contributions to the life of the communities he served. I was fortunate to be able to work with him through the University of Dayton’s Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. Don helped create the best practices for community engaged learning that would cross traditional boundaries for the common good. Through his good work, he helped create and strengthen communities of learning and discourse in which students and neighborhood residents taught one other and actually accomplished often amazing results. Through his calm and passionate facilitation, U.D. students interacted with residents to identify challenges and work together to remediate them.  Don’s actions (and his life) provided inspiration for students and community leaders to carry on the work of community involvement toward benign ends. I am convinced that this inspiration will live on as the people he moved continue to move others. I am humbled and proud to count Don as a colleague and a friend.                                                                 

Bill Marvin, U.D. Philosophy Department and President of the Five Oaks Neighborhood Improvement Association

Stephanie, Laima, and Christopher,  

We are deeply sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you during this difficult time, sending love and condolences. Please accept our heartfelt sympathies. 

Love, 
The LPR Family 

Sending my sympathy to the family. I had known Don as a fellow parent raising children at St Albert. Then on a working level we met again while photographing for the Fitz Center. He will be missed by the wider community, UD and his family. 

The local area has lost one of its brightest stars with the untimely passing of Don Vermillion. The term "brightest stars" probably deserves some explanation, as Don  was not one who would be remembered through public notarity; but rather, his quiet and unobtrusive effectiveness.
I first met Don while assisting the City of Miamisburg in preparing its Comprehensive Plan and revised Zoning Ordinance while I was employed by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.  He impressed me then as not playing the supervisory role, but more effectively, as a participating partner; obviously wanting to be a working part of the process, even though not a planner per se.  We later crossed paths again after I had joined Montgomery Co. as Planning Manager,  when Don had  been appointed as County Administer. Although Don's position was considerably above mine, I felt my association was one of working with him, and he with me, rather than one of employee/supervisor. Once again, reflecting his behind the scenes, yet very effective style of leadership and support.
In closing, I'm hopeful Don will be looking down with satisfaction on those successful future community leaders he has mentored as Professor of Leadership in Community and Political Science at UD. No doubt his experience and guidance has provided them an excellent path to follow.
Wishing you restful peace my unforgetable friend. So sorry your local leadership role , and that of loving father, ended so soon; when those like you are so sorely needed in today's world.
                                                                                          Sincerely,
                                                                                          Warren Vrooman

  

I was blessed to have had Don and Brother Fitz lead me at the University of Dayton in forming bridges and relationships in our community. I am thankful for his kindness, desire to help others, and impact that he had in those he served. I am sorry for your loss. 

Some of the best memories that I have of my brother-in-law are the stories of Don and Jan during their childhood. The amount of mischief that Don would get into and the typical brother sister relationship at that age. Don was definitely one of the good ones and touch many lives. He had such a good heart. Rest in peace my friend! I'll take care of your sis until you meet again. 

OBITUARY

Donald Alan Vermillion

November 18, 1949 – July 27, 2018

Tobias Funeral Home - Far Hills Chapel

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