Engineer – Fire Station 93
Deceased:
01/17/2021
Appointed:
06/28/1969
Pensioned:
07/06/1997 – FS93
Services:
PRIVATE
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
bill h koenig says
I never met a finer man on the job, rest in peace Don.
Frank O'Grady says
Bill, I don’t know if you were a FF at the Task Force Station Don was an engineer at but, if so, there was a FF there named Bill who was a hoot.
Don and his crew were kind enough to host me for lunch when I was considering accepting a job offer from LAFD but I had so many years in with my agency and I had 3%@50 so I stayed put.
What you and the others here say about my uncle brings tears to my eyes.
All respect.
Frank O’Grady
Retired IAFF 4488
Mike Littleton says
I first met Don when he was an Engineer at 29’s and I was an Engineer working at 35’s. There was a period of time when we seemed to see each other quite often because an arsonist was working the area between Battalion 5 and Battalion 11. We’d sometimes laugh about how creative we would have to be to secure a water supply and often wondered what the next challenge would be. I lost track of Don for a while and was pleasantly surprised to see that he was one of the Engineers assigned to my shift when I was promoted to Capt. II at FS-105 B. Don proved himself to be everything an Engineer should be, including a leader in the locker room. Since we both lived in Thousand Oaks, we decided it would be a good idea to ride share into the station. During those rides back and forth to work we’d talk about nearly every subject under the sun and I found him to be a great family man and a good friend. I’m sorry to hear of his passing and wish the best for his family.
Bruce C Frashure says
Don and I came on together, and I was lucky to work with him throughout our careers. He was one of many fine Engineers on the job.
Sheldon McKowan says
Don was a great guy! I met him when I was transferred to FS 43 when I finished probation. I enjoyed going out on his catamaran and running with him around the block at the station and in 10k’s. I never did finish ahead of him even though I was half his age. Such a gentleman and what a great family. I am very sad to hear of his passing and wish all the best for his family.
David Bachman says
I had 6 great years at 105’s with Don as my Engineer. Any Captain will tell you that it doesn’t get any better than having a natural meeting of the minds in the front Cab. This was the case with Don. We had so much fun just going to work. He was one of those guys that makes the whole thing flow and I will be eternally great full for that. Around the station we all were quite happy when Don would cook. I smell cinamon rolls. Or pepper fried steak or clam chowder. Don, we all really enjoyed working with you and having you as a friend.
Rest in piece Don and I wish the best for your family.
David Bachman
Brian Humphrey says
It’s hard to think of a more pleasant and capable member of the LAFD than Don Venolia, who comfortably embodied all of the virtues one could hope to attain in a fire service career. A warm smile and hearty laugh was something he always shared at the best possible moment, and something he balanced with a great skill of listening and casually reflecting – to the great benefit of I and countless others, that helped us not only better understand the concept or scenario at hand, but to best understand ourselves, our purpose at the moment and the many opportunities that might lie ahead. His kindness and inspiration to me when I served in Battalion 17 is something I will always treasure.
Frank O'Grady says
Don is my uncle and I will never forget him and his crew hosting me for lunch when I considered working with LAFD.
He had a crewmate named Bill who grieved us both hard about our noses!
I enjoyed the camaraderie of his station very much and have to say I laughed very much that day.
It had been a dream of mine to work at a taskforce station for an agency such as LAFD and I enjoyed a couple of lunches and his famous cinnamon rolls there with him and his crew while deciding what to do.
It would have been a real pleasure to work alongside him if I got lucky enough but, in the end, I turned down the job and stayed with the agency I had been with for many years already.
The gratitude and respect I have for Don is significant and I can only hope I have impacted others even a bit like he has.
Don was kind, professional, a good uncle, and always a pleasure to be around and my aunt and Don’s widow, Cecilia, is equally a wonderful person.
I feel his absence from afar.