6/25/2025
Dear Don,
As we look back on all we’ve built together these past few years, we just have to say—what a ride! You’ve been such an incredible part of the Bennington County Habitat for Humanity story, and we can’t thank you enough for the energy, care, and steady leadership you’ve brought to our construction sites, our volunteers, and our entire community.
From the very beginning, you jumped in with both feet. In your time with us, you led the construction of three full homes, helped bring another across the finish line when you arrived, and laid the foundation for two more before stepping into retirement. You didn’t just manage projects—you helped us grow.
Because of you, we’ve gone from building one or two houses at a time to confidently managing multiple projects at once. You helped us move toward more standardized, efficient builds and paved the way for us to prepare multiple sites at the same time. Because of you, we’re on track to prepare multiple sites at once and bring more families home, more efficiently.
But Don, more than the homes you helped build, what we’ll remember most is how you worked—with patience, with humor, and with a genuine love for teaching. You always made people feel welcome, capable, and part of something meaningful. Whether someone had been building for years or was picking up a hammer for the first time, you knew just how to walk them through it, step-by-step.
We’ll always remember the incredible teamwork you helped orchestrate during our Dome to Home event—where you coordinated nearly every part of the construction process alongside our volunteers to make the day a resounding success. You truly kept things moving to your own steady rhythm. (It’s probably no coincidence that you’re a drummer—turns out, keeping a good beat is a pretty great way to keep a job site running smoothly!)
As you step into this next chapter of retirement with your lovely wife Michele, we hope you feel proud of everything you’ve helped us build—not just the houses, but the community, the momentum, and the sense of possibility you’ve left behind.
Thank you, Don! We wish you nothing but happiness, music, and lots of well-deserved rest!
With gratitude and appreciation,
All of us at Bennington County Habitat for Humanity
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