A gifted scholar and athlete, Donald Cole ’54 earned a full academic and baseball scholarship to Santa Clara. After graduation, he married his wife of 70 years, Verna, and they moved to Germany during his Army service. Turning down a Baltimore Orioles contract, Don focused on his family as they welcomed their daughter, Sherryl. He built a distinguished 33-year career as an economist for the state of California, including time in Governor Ronald Reagan’s Office of Planning and Research. Don loved culture, sports, and recreation, including Broadway shows, skiing in Bear Valley, or excelling at golf, tennis, and bowling. Don died on Aug. 23, 2025.