Don was born in El Centro, California, the only child of Floyd and Mildred (Shawver) Dillon. He attended Shorewood High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1943, he graduated in Political Science from Stanford University, and married his college sweetheart, Mary Ann Walker. He served in WWII and Korea with the US Navy, aboard Destroyer Escorts in the Atlantic and the Pacific. He continued to serve in the reserves and retired as a Commander.
He joined his father, Floyd, in the nursery business in the early 1950's in Ventura County. They moved Four Winds Growers to Mission San Jose in 1954. He was an innovator in those early days with container growing, plant label and drip irrigation. While President of Four Winds, the nursery expanded to three locations, selling citrus and other edible ornamentals to retail nurseries and garden centers, as well as online. He was a charter member of Western Region of the International Plant Propagators, and then served as its President and also President of the International Plant Propagators. He embraced the IPPS motto “Seek and Share”. He was President of Saratoga Horticulture Research Foundation. He was a big supporter of California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers, enjoying meetings at Peninsula and Central Chapters. His advice to all gardeners was rather than “talking” to plants, “listen” to them.
He wanted to be remembered as the “Formerly Honorable Mayor of the City of Fremont” where he served as Mayor for 5 years of his 16 years on the Fremont City Council. He worked with other community leaders on numerous projects, including developing and funding the 400 acre Fremont Civic, Recreational and Cultural Center with Lake Elizabeth and the City Park. Many these endeavors are described in the book, City of Fremont, The First Thirty Years. He also was involved in the planning of Ohlone Junior College. He worked to save historic homes and ranches in the Fremont area. He served as President of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and was on other intergovernmental agencies; the League of California Cities, the Alameda Creek-Coyote Hills Joint Agency, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Don was actively involved with many other pursuits for the benefit of the community. He was known for his energy, enthusiasm, problem solving and consensus building. He was into “social networking” before the term was ever coined. He loved the Friendship Force and volunteering at the Friendship Forest at Prusch Park in San Jose. He and Mary Ann joined volunteers who tended the Japanese garden at Shinn Park in Fremont and in the Historic Garden League in Monterey. He had many adventures with friends in “the kite group.” Don was very active in the Niles Rotary. The Rotarian “Four Way Test” and “Service above Self” were a more than mottos for Don. It was a way of life for him and an inspiration to us all.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Ann; his children and their spouses: Don Jr. and Donna Dillon, Mary Helen and John “Cedar” Seeger, Debbie Dillon-Adams and Warren Adams, 6 grandchildren and
7 great grandchildren and other extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the Rotary Foundation or C.A.N.E.R.S.
Memorial Service to be held March 14, 2015 11:00 A.M. at the Centerville Presbyterian Church, 4360 Central Ave, Fremont CA
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