Donald Roy Pickman

Donald Roy Pickman passed away at the age of 90 on Sunday, March 9th, surrounded by his loving family and close friends. He was born on May 11, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, the third of four children to Peter and Louise Mahé-McDonoff. Donald was the younger brother of George and Gordon Pickman, and the older brother of his sister, Helen Dorothy McDonoff-Hasch. He was married to the love of his life, Eleanor Buzek-Pickman, for 56 years until her passing in November 2015.

He is survived by his two children: Lynda Namie of St. Augustine, Florida, and her two children, Rachael and Alex Namie; and his son Christian Pickman and his wife Jennifer of Windsor, California, along with their two daughters, Madelyn and Jillian Pickman.

Donald’s early life began in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, during the Great Depression. His father worked in the automobile industry.

In 1941, his parents purchased a farm in Levering, Michigan. During those years, Donald worked the farm alongside his parents and siblings.

Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Donald joined the United States Navy in 1951. After completing boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, sometimes referred to by sailors as “Great Mistakes”. He joined the Navy’s construction battalion known as the Seabees and was stationed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where he and his fellow Seabees helped build what is now known as the Guantánamo Bay detention camp, or GITMO.

Toward the end of his active duty, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., he served as a member of the Navy Honor Guard, representing the Navy at ceremonies honoring fallen soldiers of the Korean War.

After serving his country, Donald began working at Western Electric as a journeyman draftsman later becoming a systems engineer and project manager. Over the course of his career, he collaborated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, and the United States government.

Upon his retirement in 1985, he moved his family to Ukiah. After a year, he joined the tasting room at Cresta Blanca Winery, which would later become Dunnewood Vineyards, where his love of wine and gift of gab led him to become the tasting room manager.

Once leaving Dunnewood Vineyards, Donald retired permanently and spent his time enjoying his many passions and hobbies, including woodworking and building dog houses for the local Humane Society.

Donald left a lasting legacy of kindness and compassion that touched the lives of his family, friends, and the neighbors who loved and admired him. A celebration of life service will be held at Eversole Mortuary on Saturday, April 26th at 10 AM.