William Donald (1950-2025)
Witness Post: Bill Donald – A Life Well Lived
A spiritual man and an optimist, Bill believed “The glass isn’t empty or full….I can refill it!” A master jokester, he loved telling a good story and making people laugh. He was a natural leader and enjoyed mentoring young people, becoming a member of the boards of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions and Boys and Girls Club. He was a business leader and master fundraiser for all of these organizations, which are financially better off because of his business acumen and careful stewardship.
As a Board Member of the Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions, for example, he was asked by the Board Chair to help 1) with the oversight of the endowment (then about $800,000) and 2) with a change in Leadership. Bill dug in and helped initiate a fundraising campaign, which added 20% to the program’s endowment. He also helped transition to a new Executive Director who are fiscally prudent, and who understood that non-profits are doomed if they treat their endowment’s as a piggy bank to be drained to zero. His understanding of wealth management principles was pivital.
More than anything, Bill loved the outdoors: hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, grilling, golfing, canoeing and, most of all, flying his beloved Piper Comanche. He also loved music: singing in choirs, and harmonizing in barbershop quartets. In every car he ever drove he played audio tapes. In fact he made his own “mixtapes,” before and way after it was cool. He made the best of every situation, working to learn and gain knowledge of whatever was put in front of him, to improve any situation. Bill loved to travel the world, visiting the Far East, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, South and Central America, etc. A master conversationalists, Bill struck up small talk with everyone, and he made friends wherever he went.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa on May 18, 1950, Bill was one of three sons raised by his parents, Jeanne and Mike Donald. He died on March 28, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, while awaiting a lung transplant; forever an optimist.
He is survived by his children Kim (Billy) and Lisa (Scott), grandchildren Pearl and Ysabel, his brothers Tom (Deb) and Jerry, ex-wife Annette and partner June.
Bill called Oelwein, Iowa “home” and graduated from Oelwein Community High School in 1968 and the University of Northern Iowa in 1972.
Bill had many varied job experiences: maintaining railroad tracks, teaching school, driving a school bus, owning a liquor store, working as a canoeing guide and a camp director, a realtor, an insurance agent, an investor and wealth manager. Though he was never employed as such, he spent his life taking photographs, and they were exceptional. As an adult studied and became a Reiki Master. He was also a frequent big game hunter at Farr Cattle Ranch: “Ten elk in ten years!” Bill retired from Dean Witter / Morgan Stanley after a 30+ year career as a wealth manager/VP (1984-2016).
Bill’s Dad, Mike Donald, taught him to fly airplanes, and Bill became an accomplished pilot and avid aviator all of his adult life. He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1980 as a sales executive for Cessna Aircraft. He stayed an active member of the private flying community for the rest of his adult life. He was a member of the AOPA, EAA Chapter 179 and the Port Townsend, WA Aero Museum. He had licenses for private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine and seaplane piloting. He LOVED to fly and said getting up in the air was the best way to “clear the cobwebs.” The last airplane he flew (and owned) was a Piper Comanche, tail number 7754P.
Bill’s family and friends urge him on now:
- “Fly free: Bill, Billy, Dad, Big Scot, GB, Uncle, Brother, Lover, Friend. We love you forever.”
Bill Donald, wealth manager Morgan Stanley
There will be a Celebration of Bill’s Life at the Albuquerque Country Club on Sunday, May 18th, 2025 at 4pm, on what would be his 75th birthday.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Albuquerque Journal on Apr. 20, 2025.
Henry E. Hooper 