Donovan Husat

Don retired from B.F. Goodrich after 31 years in human resources and corporate communications. Now he is a freelance writer for trade publications and educational institutions in Akron, Ohio (though he frequently visits northern California with an intent to live there eventually, at least part-time).

Don’s wife, Vacelia (Vi), holds a pharmacy degree from West Virginia University and is a registered pharmacist at Akron (Ohio) General Medical Center. Don and Vi have two children: Nikki Husat Avdis, an elementary school teacher in Sacramento; and David, a vocational school teacher in the Akron area.

He is past president of the Northeast Ohio W&L alumni chapter and in 1999 he was honored with a W&L 250th anniversary award. Don is also a former director of the Council of Communication Management, a network of senior managers; recent past president and current member of the Western Reserve Academy Alumni Association board in Hudson, Ohio, and a former member of the school’s board of trustees; and a past board member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, where he currently teaches Sunday school.

His spare-time activities include cooking, gardening, travel and the geology of the western U.S. He derives happiness from “living in the past while anticipating the future … seeing young people develop with good character, good discipline and the motivation to succeed at whatever they choose to do.” So it’s not surprising that he says “W&L has been an ongoing, important part of my life, which is why I return to visit often and try to stay involved with it.”