Oh my god. I can't believe this. So sad. So very very sad. I first got to know Don when he joined my co-ed soccer team at Lockheed around 1985 or so. In a little while Don, Ken Kron, and I were sharing a house together in Mountain View. Don and I were into folk music and would often go up to St. Michael's Alley Waiting Room (now sadly gone) in Palo Alto to catch the free shows, especially Four Shillings Short and the Psycho-Acoutic Rangers. One of the coolest things about our time as housemates was how we'd make a plan to go hear some music at some point in the future, and never speak of it again. Then, that evening, Don would stick his head in the room and just say "Well?" and I'd say "Let's go!" and off we went...'cause neither one of us had forgotten. That was very cool and I know Don got a huge kick out of the way we made that work. Don had an Amiga computer in those days. He and I played an early "adventure game" on it, and at one point he wrote a program to draw a fractal on the screen. It took forever for the image to fully appear, but that was actually one of the cool things about it - how much it taxed the machine's resources. 

Don had a full-size Ms. Pac-Man machine in the living room, from the days when, as a college student, he and couple of pals just ruled that game, even finding some "easter eggs" in the programming that no one knew existed. 

Don's interest in folk music led him to take up the banjo and the house was often filled with the sound of his practicing. And at some point he got interested in Scottish Step Dancing and joined a group up in SF to pursue it. 

There were a bunch of us who used to ride bicycles on the weekend, and Don usually joined the rides. One Spring a bunch of us planned to spend a weekend camping up near Sonoma and riding around wine country. At one of the wineries Don bought some pretty wine bottle stoppers to give to a girl at work he'd been flirting with. (As I recall, she'd playfully told him to bring her a gift from wine country, and he decided to do it. Pure Don) That girl's name: Emi. Things progressed from there, and I well remember their beautiful wedding at Hakone Gardens. Our "bachelor pad" broke up around that time, naturally, and Don and Emi moved to Gilroy. I gave up soccer about that time and Don and I drifted apart. Within a few years I'd moved thousands of miles away and we never got back in touch. I wish we had. I can just imagine picking up the phone and hearing Don say "well?". 

He's gone too soon. Way, way, too soon. Don, you're living in my memories and they're all good ones. He was one of the coolest guys ever, a true-blue person whose word was his bond. The world is a poorer place without him in it.

Emi, my heart goes out to you.

So sorry to hear of Don's passing. I have known Don at Lockheed Martin for several years. Working with him was always a pleasure. My best to you and the family.

So sorry for your loss. He was a delight to his family and all who knew him.

Emi and Family,
 Don was a great person to work with. I recall many a time when he would come to my desk and ask "How can I make your day better" or when I greeted him in the morning with "How are you" his reply would be "Wonderfully fantastic!" . The last time I passed by his desk he had written on his white board " You  don't have to blow out someone else's  candle to make yours shine brighter". He will be missed.

Emi, I was very sad to hear of Donald's passing. My heart goes out to you and your family. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless,

Luis

My heart goes out to family and friends, In living memory, Saundra Scott and family

Worked with him, traveled with him. Always a pleasure to be around. And he was always quoting rock songs, such as the Blood Sweat and Tears song above. He'll be missed.

Emi - Wishing you healing during this very difficult time.

Emi and family,
There are no words to express how sorry I am for your loss. "The Donald" was a special person who just by his easy going manner made you feel like you had known him for a long time. I will miss his contagious smile and joking banter back and forth when we would scrap with you.
-Cheryl

OBITUARY

Donald Lee Williams

August 8, 1960 – January 9, 2015

Willow Glen Funeral Home

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