Invitation to 68th Birthday Celebration

Donald E. Dogherra was born on December 8^th, 1943 from father Richard F. Dogherra and mother Ermyn A. Scott in Santa Cruz Hospital. With brothers Richard (Buddy), Bill, and sisters Verna and Joanne he was the 2^nd youngest in the family.

He attended Santa Cruz High School.  During his senior year he received “Most Improved”.  He joined the Navy Reserves during high school.

Moments that were most remembered from High School was meeting  Katheryn S. Read and later married, plus graduating from the same school as his grandmother (Verna Rountree Scott) in 1912.

Both Don and Kay attended Cabrillo College.  1963 Don became active in the Navy and attended several Naval schools and became Rank E6 Nuclear Reactor Operator.   Don and Kay moved often: Alameda-CA, Idaho Falls-IS, New London-CN.  Eventually he was sent to sea on his first nuclear submarine trip the Edison SSBN600 which on its first patrol remained underwater for 92 days.  He completed a total of 8 Polaris patrols serving on several nuclear submarines.

In 1967 Dane W. Dogherra was born (New London, CN) and later 1969 Susan D. (Dogherra) Winton (Oakland, CA).  The four of them were transferred by the Navy to Spain in 1972 where they lived for 2 ½ years.  While living there they traveled and visited Madrid, The Straight of Gibralter, and most of Southern Spain.  Don & Kay also became active and attended shot-gun shooting events, where Kay won second place in the “Women’s “Skeet” World Champion” in Madrid, Spain 1974.  Returning to California in 1975 after leaving the Navy they lived in Santa Cruz.  Don joined his father and brothers at Dogherra’s Wheel & Brake located on Benito Street, behind Millers Auto.

During the 1980’s Don pressed ever forward to grow the business large enough to expand to the Aptos Auto Center (10105 Soquel Dr)… He and Dan enjoyed model cars, and model gas engine airplanes.  He pressed further forward to get his own pilots license and owned several planes over the years.  He frequently flew to the Sierra foothills to fish, and on occasion flew up to Idaho and other west coast states for hunting and fishing.  He attained his commercial multi engine instrument rating.

In 1988, Don and Kay went their separate ways, and met wonderful people to be with and enjoy the rest of their lives….Don sold the automotive business, and kept the tow company “Aptos Tow” which started the year before.

Don lost his father (Scotts Valley) in 1979, and his mother Ermyn (Aptos) 1993.  His oldest brother Buddy (Idaho) and oldest sister Verna (San Jose) passed away in the late 1990’s,  Bill his last brother (Santa Cruz) passed in 2005.  Sister Joann still lives in Santa Cruz.

In 1999, Don retired and moved to Visalia to enjoy the warm country weather…  but after just 3 years lost his second wife (Alice) to cancer.  He decided to return to Santa Cruz to be with Dan and his family.. He met his current wife Mimi in 2003.

In 2010, Don was again diagnosed with cancer and is fighting the big fight… March 2011, the doctors gave Don a choice of either chemo treatments or enjoy 7 to 9 months… He’s chosen the latter, and has traveled to his daughter (Susan’s) home in New Mexico to see the sights and visit with her and her family.

These days Mimi spends a lot of her time keeping Don comfortable with all the healthcare and up keep.  Don continues to try and stay in good spirits and fills his days with flying remote control helicopters and being a mentor to Dan & Susan.

UPDATE!!!

Don passed away peacefully at 8:14pm on Decebmer 10, 2011….  we was surrounded by his wife, son, daughter in law, and grandsons….  he passed with a smile on his face looking forward to his next adventure.

NO SERVICE WILL BE HELD…..

Link to Santa Cruz Sentinel article recently published:

Man Tackles Personal Bucket List As 68th – And Likely Last – Birthday Celebration Nears

By Kimberly White – Santa Cruz Sentinel