Donald Alfred Plechaty was born in Alhambra, California October 9, 1929. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorene Plechaty, April 9, 1949. He passed away one month shy of their 70th wedding anniversary. Don and Dorene met when they were 10 years old and have been together ever since.
Don grew up in Alhambra with a fascination of photography and horticulture. After graduating from Alhambra High School he went to work as a floral designer. During his time as a florist he got to work many holiday seasons helping build Rose Parade floats.
Soon after his marriage to Dorene, Don started working at Union Hardware where Don learned about computers during the era of inception and development. Don’s career grew as computers developed and he started managing Data Centers for Rose Marie Reid, Virtue Brothers Furniture and Spartan Grocers. In the 1960’s Don became Director of the Data Center for Western Airlines where he enjoyed taking trips with his family, even it was a one day trip to Alaska so his father could experience an airplane flight and say he had visited Alaska.
While his girls were growing up he was very involved the community of Agoura, CA and served on the Las Virgenes School Board.
After Western Airlines, Don worked in Northern California. After several years a new opportunity for him and Dorene presented itself so they started an over 30 year adventure in Colorado. Don was VP of Operations for US West where his responsibility grew to over 10 data centers around the country. He made many lifelong friends there and they still gather together for semi-annual pot luck dinners to stay in touch. Upon Don’s retirement he went back to his roots of woodworking finishing and installed shutters for the Window Wizard in the Denver area.
His favorite past time was gardening and playing with computers. Don was a loving husband, wonderful father, incredible friend to those in his world. And he had a wicked sense of humor that he used often!
Don is preceeded in death by his parents and grandson Bryan Sandoval. He is survived by his wife Dorene Plechaty, daughters Debbie Finley (Eric) and Denise Smith (John), his grandchildren, Stacey Gallardo, Sarah Daub (Frank), Stephen and David Sandoval, and his great grandchildren, Blake and Matthew Sandoval, Sophia and Amelia Gallardo, Kyle and Brody Sandoval, Carson and Kamryn Daub and Giovanni Sandoval.
There will be a private Celebration of Life April 13, 2019 in Denver Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Donald's memory to The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society, 7155 Oakridge Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229 or online by clicking the link below.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Plechaty family by clicking "add a memory" below.
DONATIONS
The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society7155 Oakridge Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229
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