Don lived a truly remarkable life defined by a
passion for words and beauty. He was one of the first generation of teachers of
African literature in the United States; an author who published 12 books on
the history, culture, literature and art of Africa; a poet who published
multiple short books; a linguist and translator who spoke five languages
fluently and was competent in five more; a basketball coach and a tennis coach
whose teams competed in national championships; a traveler to 79 countries; and
a lover of painting, birds, ballet and the arts generally.
His greatest achievement may have been his deeply
loving in-home caregiving for his wife, Mary Lou, who he supported for seven
years following her strokes.
He was an English professor at Franklin Pierce College from 1968 to 2001, which was his platform for remarkable intellectual achievement until his final days. His books were published in Portugal and Nigeria, and have been used in university classes from Harvard to the University of London. He was a visiting professor in Africa and Europe and a correspondent for ODISSEA, a journal of culture and ideas published in Milan.
Don spoke at events around the world. He shared the
stage with such writers as Toni Morrison, Sonia Sanchez and Chinua Achebe, perhaps
Nigeria’s and Africa’s foremost 20th century novelist.
In 2018, he was the keynote speaker at an event
honoring the 60th anniversary of the publication of Achebe’s defining work, Things
Fall Apart.
As a sign of respect for Don, Achebe gave him the
honorific title Ojemba Enweilo (traveler who makes no enemies).
He described himself as “a happy and enthusiastic
and energetic person,” and added that “the best things” in his life were his
wife, Mary Lou, to whom he was married for more than 50 years, and his seven
dachshunds.
He grew up in West Hartford, Conn., the son of Dr.
Manuel and Frances Burness, and was Jewish. He is a graduate of the University
of Michigan and did graduate study at Trinity College in Hartford and the
Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa.
He is survived by his loving wife, Maria Elena
Balladares, whom he called “Miss Ecuador” and married two days before he died.
He is also survived by two brothers, John of Durham, N.C., and Andy of Chevy
Chase, Md.
There will be a graveside gathering in Rindge on a
date to be determined in the spring, followed by a Zoom memorial to enable
people from all over the United States and beyond to join in remembering Don.
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Chidi Chike Achebe MD, MPH, MBA
Chairman and CEO
AIDE - African Integrated Development Enterprise
www.aideafrica.com
He was a great man.
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