Donald Gilbert Knight

I worked with Don for several years when he volunteered as a Senior Companion at The Opportunity Alliance.  So many positive memories come to mind in our time together.  Some of the first words I think of in conjunction with Don are graciousness, humility, wit, and humor in spades.  He had a special sort of thoughtful and easygoing energy and communication style that immediately put anyone in his work environment at ease--whether client, peer volunteer, or administrator.  We all were blessed who shared time on this earth with Don, whether for days or decades.

Don was a fellow Senior Companion volunteer. We oriented to the program at the same time and became buddies and then friends. He could be counted on for a warm heart and inherent kindness and compassion. He was such an effective Senior Companion that it took three attempts for him to successfully retire. The first two times he retired but after a fairly brief retirement, he received a call requesting that he come back and share his company because there was such a need for his ability to connect well with other seniors. His soft heart and compassion made it difficult to say no. When the time came for the third retirement attempt, he told me that he was going to stay retired this time, and managed to stick with it. He was missed as a volunteer and will be missed by all who knew him. Rest well Don. You earned it.

I was so saddened to learn that Don has left us. All of us at Portland Adult Ed loved Don. His smile and wit were treasures and helped us navigate and survive our times at PAE on Douglass Street. He never missed a graduation or party at Marie's and always had a kind word to say to anyone who would listen. The world needs more Don Knights in it. Rest in peace my friend. 

I remember Don for many things but forever I will remember him as a wonderful writer.  One of the first stories I remember was one set when his character was broke and out of a job and resorted to eating a potato chip sandwich.  Don had me then as a fellow writer and traveller in this world. At the time, I was facilitating a class called Sudden Fiction and Don attended many of those sessions( in the 80's and 90's).  I still have some of his writings because I could never give them up.  He understood Maine and he understood life with all its joys and jolts. For some reason(probably because he kept me sane on more than one occasion while working at Portland Adult Ed when it was on Douglass Street) he acquired the name of "Hudson".  He was our greeter, our front door man willing and ready to do service whenever necessary--either to handle an emergency or prevent one. But, mostly, for me, he was a fellow writer laboring not for praise or money but for the simple and elegant truth of his world. Here are a list of some of his stories:  The Bus Ride, Guava Jelly, Musical Memories, Pocket Books.  Another one that I don't have but remember was The Thanksgiving Fish.  Simple titles for stories that unfolded tenderly and often surprisingly.  
Au revoir, my friend.

Oh how I would love to hear his story of the Thanksgiving Fish :)