Donnie was one of a kind. He could be intimidating until you got to know him but if you made an effort he gave it back to you in spades. I had the pleasure of working with Donnie a great deal.  He always gave 100% in a very challenging job. I wish I had gotten to know Donnie a bit away from work but such is the world of television. Hand to heart I hope he’s looking down and smiling on his family , friends and professional admirers.  

Loved Don. Smart witty and way more than competent, at  what he did. Everyone loved being around him. He always stood out in the crowd. We stood side-by-side on picket lines, and as I remember, he wore his Purple Heart proudly when then  mayor Giuliani tried to stop us from picketing, and he put it right in his face. RIP Donny. 

I knew Don when he was a student at Performing Arts High  School. (Not LaGuardia! -- BIG difference!) He appeared to me to be a person who was troubled, and indeed, he always seemed to be on the outs with the school officials. So as a very young person (I attended ages 13-16) he was a bit scary.  Eons later, I attended a class reunion.  What a difference. He was grounded, funny, and purposeful. It remains a fond and positive memory. I started following him on Facebook after that, and delighted in his activism and family life.  Bravo to him for a life resolved and very well lived! And my condolences to his family and friends. 

It was the best of times at ABC.  Everyone was part of a crew. Donnie...everyone wanted to be around Donnie...just a great fun guy and an exceptional audio director. Donnie didn't have much to do with the Soap Opera crews but when we needed the best, we wanted Donnie.
Me and Howie Zweig were TDs for All my Children, the first Soap Opera to venture into producing a several day remote shoot, HUGE pressure. We knew we needed the best, so we got Donnie. It would have been an embarrassment if we failed. We didn't. At the wrap up party Donnie started knocking down audio when executive producer Jorn Winter shouted out from the back of the set with his Danish accent " everything went so well audio could have been a bit better." This was part of the ongoing humor back and forth the two had all week.  Of course, everyone knew that Donnie's audio was perfect. So Donnie without hesitation turned on the mic, jacked up the volume and said in his deepest loudest voice " never argue with a man with a microphone, you will lose". We could not stop laughing. You see, Donnie was more than just the best at his job, Donnie was a personality that made him the best part of any crew.
RIP Donnie
Joe Solomito

DON Scholtes
My brothers in arms, Together with 
Mike Roland, 
Dennis Johnson, 
William Lorenzo, 
Steve Stoddart, 
Carmen Caruso, 
Russ Cambell
Winston Durant
Tom Scarnecchia
Wally Hayes
Fred Johnson
Joe Tallerico
Chuck Nucifora 
We are a group of Vietnam vets that have been meeting for 13 years. 

We each had a different experience because we were all in nam around the same but did different jobs. It got to be we didn’t have to say anything all you had to do was like look at each other And we knew what was going on.

Don told us Wednesdays at 3 o’clock would be the best day of the week. 
He was right. It was sanctuary. Each one of us brought ourselves Into the room not knowing what the outcome would be for the next hour. It could be Dennis saying something and Billy saying to him…now Dennis, 
How could you say that.
 It could be Steve going off on a tangent ending in him saying “ If he or she was here, I would shoot em right between the eyes. “

We learned early on not to talk about politics.  To a man it was a subject learned again every time a FNG unknowingly brought politics up. 

We are a microcosm of a society. 
I tell you this because Don was the linchpin of our group. He kept us together. He helped Mike and I tried to explain to VA what we needed. He was a fighter for anyone he met. You never heard him say I Don’t have time right now. Imiss you my brother. 

DON Scholtes
My brothers in arms, Together with 
Mike Roland, 
Dennis Johnson, 
William Lorenzo, 
Steve Stoddart, 
Carmen Caruso, 
Russ Cambell
Winston Durant
Tom Scarnecchia
Wally Hayes
Fred Johnson
Joe Tallerico
Chuck Nucifora 
We are a group of Vietnam vets that have been meeting for 13 years. 

We each had a different experience because we were all in nam around the same but did different jobs. It got to be we didn’t have to say anything all you had to do was like look at each other And we knew what was going on.

Don told us Wednesdays at 3 o’clock would be the best day of the week. 
He was right. It was sanctuary. Each one of us brought ourselves Into the room not knowing what the outcome would be for the next hour. It could be Dennis saying something and Billy saying to him…now Dennis, 
How could you say that.
 It could be Steve going off on a tangent ending in him saying “ If he or she was here, I would shoot em right between the eyes. “

We learned early on not to talk about politics.  To a man it was a subject learned again every time a FNG unknowingly brought politics up. 

We are a microcosm of a society. 
I tell you this because Don was the linchpin of our group. He kept us together. He helped Mike and I tried to explain to VA what we needed. He was a fighter for anyone he met. You never heard him say I Don’t have time right now.  
He will be sorely missed by us all. 

Many know him as Don, but I have always known him as Poppop. He is truly a one of a kind soul who could make friends with just about anyone because of his love for making people feel special. There is never a day that goes by that I don’t think about him and his lasting impact that he will have on me for the rest of my life. He taught me that there is no harm in being nice and talking to people and that a few kind words can make someone’s day. I could not be more proud to call him my grandfather and to continue speaking about his legacy with ABC, being a Veteran and being the best grandfather I could ask for. I miss you beyond words and you’ll always be my hero. 

Chris Priore 


Don was a Friend who would never disappoint, always had your back, was a Gentleman, and most importantly a Truth teller. 
We had great talks while on the road for ABC . He Loved his Family most of All. He always remembered his friends. He could cut the tension in a room with only a few words. He
was One of a kind,My Friend.
He Will Be Missed. I’ll be seeing you.
Steve ❤️

Don was an amazing guy and selfless individual. He and I, along with other special vets were privileged to know him and share our ups and downs for the past 13 years...I watched him help so many veterans with their claims, many did not ask him for help, he asked them "can I help you?"In my own way I try to do things for my fellow veterans in different ways but always following Don's lead!
You will be missed my friend!
Mike

ALL I AN SAY IS : My Mcglades buddy! My ABC colleague, I know we have not been in touch for years but you were a friend and more than a colleague!!!

Don was a good friend and a great engineer to work with on some of our bigger audio projects, Olympics, Superstars, and many others. He and I enjoyed a cocktail, mine a Huma-Huma and his a Martini. I know we'll get together again to enjoy a cocktail wherever friends gather together. Goodbye for now. You will be missed. 

Don was a good and kind man, a combat veteran, a Union brother, and a true progressive.  I will miss him and will forever be grateful for having known and worked with him.

William Bores
V.P. NABET-CWA Local 16

So sorry to hear about Don’s passing.  He was loved by all.  He was a great help to me when I first started working with ABC.  Joey admired him dearly. Rest In Peace. 
Kelly Schiavo

OBITUARY

Don Scholtes

July 3, 1946 – February 23, 2022

Becker Funeral Home

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