Don was a math major from Westfield, NJ. Upon arrival at Davidson, he had been playing the string bass for over 13 years. He served as principal in the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra and Davidson College Jazz Ensemble. Before coming to Davidson, Don was active in instrumental music at Westfield High School, and a two-year member of the New Jersey All-State Orchestra.

An avid jazz musician, Don wrote music for and played bass in Off Main Jazz Quintet, an independent professional jazz combo that he co-founded in 2005. In April 2007, Don coordinated Davidson’s first Student Chamber Music recital, which featured five student chamber groups, including the Aurora Trio, the Concord Quartet, and a group Don assembled to perform Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet. Don studied with Jeff Ferdon of the Charlotte Symphony.

Don regularly performed on recordings with other Davidson students. He performed on several tracks of Davidson alumna Kate Minogue’s 2006 album Right Now, participated in several final projects for the Music Technology and Production class, and released a live album with Off Main in October 2005. When Don was not playing in an ensemble, one could typically find him singing and playing guitar somewhere on campus.

In addition to music, Don enjoyed studying courses in applied mathematics, and served as secretary of the Richard Bernard Society of Mathematics. He also served as president of Davidson’s chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, and was an active member in Westminster Fellowship, Order of Omega, and Davidson’s club sailing team.