Don Pack passes away

The sad news from retired printer Dick Latshaw about former Composing co-worker Don Pack:

“John:

“Don passed away tonight (Tuesday) about 9:30.

On Siesta Key in 2003

“There is to be an obit in the Beacon.”

Latshaw, who lives on Pauleys Island, South Carolina, explained how it came to this sad ending:

“Don and Betsy were on a cruise off Mexico when Don fell and hit his head. They took him to a Mexican hospital where they put him on life support. He was flown to Fort Lauderdale and was to be taken off life support as soon as all the kids get there.”

This happened Friday.

Dick got the information from Sally Pack, Don's former wife and the mother of their seven children.

Don’s girlfriend, Betsy Friese of Sarasota, who accompanied him on their travels in the Americas, wrote:

“Dear Friends:

“It is with deep sorrow I inform you Don died February 17, 2015. While on a cruise he went into a coma and was airlifted to Ft. Lauderdale. His children were with him during his final hours.

“Don and I were together for 17 years. He was the love of my life, my best friend, a kind and gentle soul as well as an avid sports fan. He loved to fish, exercise in the pool and did not miss too many happy hours.

“Services will be private.

“Sincerely

“Betsy”

Pack, who was my late father’s bookie when Don worked at the BJ, was the pool guy at Sea Castle on Siesta Key, Florida during many of my 19 winter visits there.

But he vacationed in Latin America with Betsy and drove to his pool jobs in convertibles that teenagers would drool over.

Don is not the only BJ retiree I have had reunions with in Florida. Unfortunately, most will be joined by Don in That Great Newsroom in the Sky.

People like former BJ Composing honcho Dave White, whose widow Gina White lives in their Venice, Florida home; former BJ printer Terry Dray, whose widow Cecily lives in their Avon Park, Florida home; newsroom rewrite guru Don Bandy, who passed away in Bradenton, Florida.

At least Hugh Downing, who also crossed my path on Siesta Key, is still above ground and has lived in The Villages, Florida with wife Sharon for a dozen years.

And arranges a weekly golf outing with me at a different course so that I can try out as many of the 47 links as possible during my 3-month stay in The Villages with former State Desk reporter Paula Stone Tucker.

There have been WAY too many obituaries for me to post on the BJ Alums blog, including blog founder Harry Liggett, who with Pat Englehart taught me, at age 38, what it was to be an outstanding editor during the glorious State Desk reign that brought Ol’ Blue one of its four Pulitzers, for the coverage of the 1970 Kent State killing of four students and wounding of nine others.

RIP, Don. Maybe you can get St. Peter to give you extra perks in return for a “sure thing” trifecta.

Retired BJ printer Don Pack, who was my late father’s bookie, was the pool guy at Sea Castle on Siesta Key, Florida during many of my 19 winter visits there.

But he spent his vacations in Central America with his main squeeze and drove to his pool jobs in convertibles that teenagers would drool over.

Retired printer Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pauley’s Island, South Carolina, related this sad news about Don:

John:

Don and Betsy were on a cruise off Mexico when Don fell and hit his head.

They took him to a Mexican hospital where they put him on life support.

He was flown to Fort Lauderdale and he is to be taken off life support as soon as all the kids get there.

This happened some time Friday.

He is to be cremated. There will no services.

This is per Sally Pack.

Dick Latshaw

Don Pack was a big man who lived life big. What a tragic impending ending.

Don is not the only BJ retiree I have had reunions with in Florida. Unfortunately, most will be joined by Don in That Great Newsroom in the Sky.

People like former BJ Composing honcho Dave White, whose widow Gina White lives in their Venice, Florida home; former BJ printer Terry Dray, whose widow Cecily lives in their Avon Park, Florida, home; newsroom rewrite guru Don Bandy, who passed away in Bradenton, Florida.

At least Hugh Downing, who also crossed my path on Siesta Key, is still above ground and has lived in The Villages, Florida with wife Sharon for a dozen years.

And arranges a weekly golf outing with me at a different course so that I can try out as many of the 47 links as possible during my 3-month stay in The Villages with former State Desk reporter turned psychologist Paula Stone Tucker, who grew up in Cuyahoga Falls as a banker’s daughter.

There have been WAY too many obituaries for me to post on the BJ Alums blog, including blog founder Harry Liggett, who with Pat Englehart taught me, at age 38, what it was to be an outstanding editor during the glorious State Desk reign that brought Ol’ Blue one of its four Pulitzers, for the coverage of the 1970 Kent State killing of four students and wounding of nine others.

RIP, Don. Maybe you can get St. Peter to pay you for a “sure thing” trifecta.