Donald Vermilya Gray ’56 died on February 25 after a long battle with mesothelioma. Born in Woodland, Don graduated from Woodland High School and Santa Clara University. After proudly serving his country for two years in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War, Don worked in various hospitals in the area including UC Davis Medical Center and Mercy Medical Clinics as a hospital administrator. After retirement, he volunteered on the Yolo Hospice Board of Directors for over 10 years. Don was known for his avid love of reading and learning. He was fluent in Spanish and loved speaking it whenever he found someone who would converse with him. He loved to swim and hike, and would take his grandchildren to his cabin to show them the wonders of the great outdoors. He loved to travel and he and his wife, Joyce, explored many areas of the U.S. in their RV and they traveled to many different countries.

“You must understand the whole of life, not just one part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, why you must sing, dance and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.” -Krishnamurti