1956

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Donald Charles Bacon ’56, Oct. 16, 2013. Donald Charles Bacon was born in San Mateo, Calif. in 1934 to John and Helen Bacon. He was 79 year old when he died, from a long-term illness, at his home in Tillamook. He graduated from Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, Calif. in 1952 and from Santa Clara University in 1956 with a B.S. in commerce. During the college summer breaks Don worked in lumber retail, meatpacking and construction. He was in ROTC Army during college and served active duty in Germany from 1957 to 1959. In 1960 he was promoted to 1st Lt. He served two years of reserve duty. In 1961 he was honorably discharged and married Bliss C. Vissiere of San Mateo, Calif. During the 21 years of living in the San Francisco area Don was in a business partnership for which he organized and worked in a nursery and garden supply retail complex in Millbrae, Calif. and started a contractor’s equipment rental company. He was an officer and partner in the Western Garden and Trade Show, which became the San Francisco Outdoor Garden Exposition in 1967. He was member of numerous professional associations, serving on boards, or finance committees. When their three children were in elementary and middle school, Don wanted to be home on most weekends to spend time with his children, so he sold his share of the partnership and started a new career working for a large construction company as a business developer, who brought together the interested parties of proposed projects through negotiated contracts. His company operated in California and Hawaii and constructed warehouses, shopping centers, apartments, business complexes, mobile home parks, and hospitals. He later joined another company for which he planned land use, financing and managed leasing the developed projects. Then he bought and developed his own condominiums. When Don sold the condominiums in 1977, he and his family moved to Sun River. Don bought, and managed Breslers 33 Flavors of Bend, and Tree House Pizza Parlor in Sun River, and by 1987 sold both business. He enjoyed outdoor activities of snow skiing, camping, canoeing, bicycling with his sons, and supporting his daughter in her love of horseback riding and related competitions. In 1983, Don became the executive director of Central Oregon Economic Development Council. Two years later, he became the Director of Tillamook Action Team, charged with developing economic opportunities in Tillamook County. He was able to obtain grant monies for the following businesses: Tillamook Country Smoker, Roger’s Evergreens, Hebo Sewer and Water, Tillamook County Fairgrounds, and Port of Tillamook Bay. In 1987, he became the Regional Manager of the Southwest Region for the Oregon Economic Development Department. Two years later, he and Bliss moved to Tillamook, when he accepted the manager’s position with the Port of Garibaldi. After 37 years of marriage, Bliss died of cancer in 1998. Don came to the job with new ideas, a set of skills and much work experience. He improved the port with the support of his commissioners and staff. The 2009 Outstanding Special District Service Award for Manager was given to Don. He was nominated by his commissioners and staff. Don retired in that year. In 2010, Jack Graves, a former commissioner, dedicated his history book ‘The First 100 Years’ of the Port of Garibaldi, 1910-2010 to Don. Don was well liked and respected by so many people in the community. In 2001 he met Dione Vice from Lafayette, La. at a wedding in Portland. They were married a year and half later and Dione moved to Tillamook. They enjoyed traveling up and down the coast, exploring the cities of the ports, and playing golf at the different courses. They took trips to visit his family in Portland, California and New Jersey, and her family in Illinois and Connecticut. They did volunteer work, serving the public meal at St. Alban’s church once a month. Don stayed active until his illness caused him to slow down in his last month alive. He will be greatly missed because he was so loved. Don’s surviving family include is wife, Dione Vice Bacon; two sons of Tigard, Donald C. Bacon, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Alison, Andrew V. Bacon and Daughter, Jennifer A. Bacon of Beaverton; step children Amanda Vice Rowley and son-in-law Marc of Connecticut, Edwin A. Vice, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Mary, of Illinois; two grandchildren, Jackson Rowley, and Vivian Rowley; brother John Bacon and sister-in-law, Lynn Bacon of Atherton, Calif. There are seven adult children in John Bacon’s family. Don has many second generation, and a few third generation nephews and nieces, whom he loved and enjoyed so much.

08 Nov 2018