Donald Harry Sewell

Donald Harry Sewell–husband, father of five–died on August 4, 2024, with his loved ones by his side, at his home in Fullerton, California. He was 82 years old. The cause of his death was complications from multiple myeloma.

Don was born September 21, 1941, as the youngest of Thomas and Helen Sewell’s three children. They lived in a drafty two-story house on a cul-de-sac in Ottawa, Canada. There, he and his brother Paul belonged to a grungy car club made up of other local teens. When Don was 17, he and two friends left Canada and made good on a bluff that they could make it to Hollywood in a 1938 Ford they had purchased for $25 and restored. On the way back to Ottawa, they left the Ford where it died somewhere in the New Mexico desert, and continued their journey by hitchhiking and hopping freight trains. Don was only in Canada for about a year before hitchhiking back to Southern California–this time, he would stay for good. He slept on beaches, in a garage, and in shelters before getting a job at an auto parts shop. Soon after, Don began pursuing his education–first at Orange Coast Community College, then earning his bachelor’s degree at Long Beach State, his master’s at San Francisco State, and finally his Doctor of Education degree at USC. He took a job teaching at Compton College before transitioning into a counseling position which he kept for 19 years. He spent the last 14 years of his career as a counselor at Cerritos College, collecting accolades and awards for his leadership.

After his retirement at age 62, he added selling vintage items on eBay to a number of lifelong interests–traveling, doing puzzles, going to classic car shows, and watching boxing, football, and golf. He most prided himself on his craftsmanship, which included a full kitchen renovation at his home. 

Over the course of his life, Don assembled a diverse community of people who offered him the same kindness and admiration he gave to them. We are sure to miss his logical mind, warmth, wisdom, innate curiosity, playfulness, and most of all, his deft and ceaseless sense of humor. 

He is mourned by his wife Barbara, five children: Damon, Shavonda and husband Roosevelt, Tiombe and husband Eric, Joshua, and Summer; his granddaughters Khenadi, Madissyn, Marina, and Maya; his sister Eleanor Walsh; and many friends and extended family in the U.S. and Canada. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Paul, and many good friends, all of whom will be delighted to see him again.

A memorial service for Donald will be held Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Arbor Road Church, 5336 E Arbor Rd, Long Beach, CA.